New Wayland League Makes Basketball a Summer Sport

As a three sport athlete at Wayland High, Ian Bonner certainly achieved several milestones. Now the 2010 graduate and current Bryant University football star plans on accomplishing another one: He's currently in the process of launching an organized Outdoor Basketball Summer League.

Upon returning home from his first year at Bryant in June, Bonner contacted several high school friends as well as others in neighboring communities about competing in pick-up basketball games during the summer.

"I thought it would be a great way for my friends and the people around the community to have something to do during the summer," said Bonner. "I sent an (email out), called some of my friends and the responses were overwhelming. The more people I contacted about playing some summer basketball, the interest continued to grow, and it grew so much that I decided to start the league up."

At first Bonner expected approximately a range of 20-30 interested competitors to sign up, but when the final count exceeded 60, Bonner decided to hold a draft.

"When it grew to (60), we decided to put (six teams) together and hold a draft,’" said Bonner. "The draft was held right before the season started, and so far we have six teams anywhere between five to 10 guys on each team. It's really worked out well, and I'd say it's been very successful so far this summer."

With the summer basketball league still in its infant stage, teams are named by colors such as Corals, Blues, Blacks, Yellows, Oranges and Greens. While some teams already are wearing uniforms, others are wearing T-shirts or various jerseys of similar color.

One team, the Corals, dons bright pink shirts with the initials "LDA" on the sleeve. The color and the initials pay tribute to Wayland High School Class of 2011 graduate , who was tragically murdered earlier this month.

"All the guys knew (Lauren) really well, and we were all shocked about what had happened,’" said Bonner. "The guys on the (Corals) all went to school with her, and they wanted to pay tribute."

As for age requirements, Bonner estimates that the competitors range from 16-21 with the majority of them former Wayland High School athletes.

"Most of the guys that play in the league are former and current athletes at Wayland High School," Bonner said. "It’s been great to see everyone come out, compete against one another and have fun at the same time."

Unlike amateur and professional basketball leagues, the Outdoor Basketball League does not have officials, a game clock or a score tracker.

Without the use of officials, players call their own fouls as well as keep track of their own scores. Games are up to a point total of 25, with the margin of victory to be decided by at least two points. Each team is awarded two time outs per game.

"There are really no set offenses, and the games are very fast paced, but competitive,"  Bonner said. "It can get pretty intense as the scores go into the teens and early 20s."

Also, like playground basketball, a basket is scored as one point, while a three-point shot is registered as two points.

"I definitely wanted to have that playground feel," Bonner said. "If we had a shot clock and quarters, then it would slow everything down and right now everyone’s here to play some basketball and to have fun. Right now it’s very primitive, but we’re hoping for bigger things next summer."

Improvements that Bonner plans on implementing include uniforms for each team as well as the possibility of hiring officials for games.

Since its inception during the first week of July, the Outdoor Basketball League currently schedules games on Tuesday and Thursday nights, starting at 6, 6:45 and 7:30. Games are currently being played on the basketball court just outside the campus of Wayland High School.

With the regular season winding down next week, the playoffs will start during the week of Aug. 8. The top two teams receive a bye while seeds 3-6 will compete in a preliminary round game followed by a semifinal round and a championship game.

"It’s all about having fun, and giving the guys something to do," said Bonner. "We’re hoping the (league) can keep on growing next year."