Key dates announced for MVI Summer League
By JEREMY SELLEW
jsellew@yourmvi.com
The second season of the Mon Valley Independent Summer Basketball League is quickly approaching and planning for the sophomore year of the league is taking shape.
Both the boys and girls divisions are looking to build on what was a successful inaugural season.
In the boys division, BeeGraphix looks to defend its league championship. AMD Industries is coming off an unbeaten season in the girls division and will look to defend its crown.
Both divisions’ commissioners have announced the key dates for the upcoming season.
Returning players in each division can now visit the league website at www.mvisbl.com to declare their return to the league and if they will be returning to their teams or using their one-time reentry into the draft.
The league’s registration will be open within the next two weeks, but dates have been set for key events.
Tryouts for both divisions will begin Monday, June 14 at the home of the league, Marx’s Court Time Sports Center in Elizabeth Township.
The girls’ tryouts will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 on June 14 and 15. The boys’ division tryouts will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 June 14-16. The girls will only hold tryouts for two days.
The Girls Division draft will be held June 17 at 8 p.m., while the Boys Division draft will be held Tuesday June 22 at 8 p.m.. Both will be livestreamed on the MVI Live YouTube channel. The links will also be posted on the MVISBL website.
The Girls Division will hold their two “meet and greets” Monday, June 21 and Wednesday, June 23.
Opening night at Marx’s Court Time Sports Center will be Monday, June 28 for the Girls Division and Tuesday, June 29.
With Gov. Tom Wolf’s announcement that COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted in time for Memorial Day, both division commissioners are anticipating great fan support.
“While we’re happy fans got to enjoy some of the games last season, we’re really excited that we’re going to be able to have a great environment for this year’s games,” Girls Division commissioner Chad Carroto said. “Part of what makes the league great are when all the kids get to come and watch some of their high school teammates and friends play.
“But an added bonus will be having the high school coaches and even college coaches come to the games. Last season, most just caught the games on the livestream. But there’s really nothing like being here in person.”
Last year, both divisions featured a lot of star power on the court, which will drive fans to the games.
Last season, Laurel Highlands’ Rodney Gallagher and Chartiers Valley’s Brayden Reynolds led the BeeGraphix squad, while Belle Vernon Area’s Devin Whitlock, South Allegheny’s Omar Faulkner and Washington’s Tayshawn Levy helped Farmers Insurance to the regular-season title.
“Think about it,” Boys Division commissioner Dana Zajicek said. “You had two players (Gallagher and Reynolds) named All-State on the same team that won the championship last year. But, they didn’t win the regular season title and they needed a fantastic, miracle-like finish to get to the championship game.
“There are a lot of good players in this league and the competition is there for all three games per night.”
In the girls division last season, AMD rattled off a perfect season on its way to a title led by Trinity’s Kaylin Venick and Eden Williamson. The Hillers’ Alyssa Clutter was the top pick in the draft.
Monessen Florist, led by numerous freshmen and Trinity’s Emily Venick, made a run to the title game by knocking off defending champion Dax Thomas State Farm.
Two new coaches, one in each division, will join the MVISBL family this season with Ringgold boys coach Eugene Wilson joining the boys division and Mariah Ward, a former Monessen star and assistant at Penn Hills, joining the girls division.l
“The girls division was really young last year and had a ton of schools represented,” Carroto said. “We’re hoping just by word of mouth, we can expand the talent level even more in both divisions.”
