Year-old association offers top-level hoop opportunities for local kids with game

BY ED WRIGHT
Aug. 9, 2010, 11:15 p.m.

  One of the primary goals of a one-year-old local youth basketball association is to make Plymouth and Canton players a force on the court - one cross-over dribble at a time.

  Fueled by the efforts of a group of dedicated local residents, the Plymouth-Canton Force enters its second year of existence with the momentum of a successful fast-break.

  Playing against top-notch talent from across the state, the Force's third- through eighth-grade teams enjoyed a healthy dose of success during year one, while its players sharpened their skills against competition that can't be found in recreation-level basketball leagues.

  "Our mission is to make basketball a bigger sport in Canton and Plymouth and to offer kids an opportunity to develop their skills against a higher level of competition than the local recreation leagues offer," said Force board member Dan Krafft.

  "The Force was started last year by a group of parents whose kids all played rec basketball. The parents recognized that there was a need for a higher level of competition for their kids so that they could develop faster than if they just played against other kids from Plymouth and Canton.

  "The best competition comes from teams in Detroit, Flint and Ann Arbor, and the Force offers opportunities for local kids to play against those teams."

  The Force has been fully endorsed by all three P-CEP high school boys basketball programs, all three of which should benefit from the skill-building the Force's enhanced competition stimulates, Krafft said.

  Sunday's monthly Force board meeting was attended by a coaching-staff representative from Plymouth, Canton and Salem high schools.

  "Our teams did well during the first year," said Krafft. "Some teams did very well. Our sixth-grade team tied for first in a league that included several AAU-caliber teams, so that was a great success. We had several tournament successes, too, taking seconds and thirds."

  Krafft said the Force ultimately would like to field three teams at each grade level from third through eighth grades.

  "Once the kids get to seventh grade and know which high school they're going to, we'd like to group them together according to school so that they can develop chemistry with their future teammates and learn the system their particular high school runs," Krafft said.

  The Force will be holding a four-day summer basketball camp Aug. 23-26 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at High Velocity Sports in Canton. The cost of the camp, which includes a reversible Force jersey, is just $50. For more information on the camp or to register, visit www.plymouthcantonforce.com.

  Players who are planning on trying out for the Force's teams on Sept. 12 are encouraged to attend the camp, which will be run by high school coaches, high school players and Force coaches.

  Ed Wright can be reached at (734) 453-1980 or info@plymouthcantonsports.com.