Summer basketball league begins play today

There is no way around it. The team that captures the Cherokee County Summer Youth League Division I championship will have to earn it.

The league tips off today with four games at B.D. Elementary School.

"We try to make each team competitive," league founder Laymond Dewberry said. "Each game will be competitive."

The Clippers are the defending champions, but must replace leading scorer and rebounder Johnny Woods. The burden to pick up the scoring and rebounding slack falls on the shoulders of Tim Dawkins, Josh Woods, Chase Wright and Kendrick McCluney.

The Blacksburg-based Wildcats may be the favorite, according to Dewberry. Josh Elmore and Darrell Walton are the Wildcats' top players.

The 76ers with Jarron Reid, the brother of AZ Reid, Chris Munsterman and Jeff Brown, will be a handful.

The Bearcats also have their share of stars with Parris Funderburke, Tim Ellis and Roy Lee Smith.

De Edward Burris, Demarial Bridges and Ivan Vernon will lead the Heat, while Josh Corry, Scott Morgan, Deshawn Dawkins and David Hopper should provide the bulk of the scoring for the Indians.

Cameron Bridges, Chris Bridges and C.J. Miller headline OneTime.

Today's schedule: 76ers vs. Bearcats 6:30 p.m. Heat vs. Kings 7:15 p.m. Indians vs. Wildcats 8 p.m.

One Time vs. Clippers 8:45 p.m. Division I games will also be played on Saturday and Saturday, May 24.