Basketball Court

Hagerstown Community College officials announced Wednesday that the school's basketball court and first floor arena space will be named after former athletic director and men's basketball coach Jim Brown, a leading advocate for the facility. Although the court will be known as the “Coach Jim Brown Court and Basketball Arena,” the building that houses the basketball court will still be known as the Athletic, Recreation and Community Center, Elizabeth K. Stull, HCC's director of public information, said Wednesday.

FUNKSTOWN -- Funkstown Community Park should have a new basketball court next spring and, if state officials approve, new tennis courts within a year. Town council members approved the low bid Monday night for a new basketball court and 320 feet of sidewalk for the park. The contract went to the Hagerstown business Henson & Son Inc., which bid $41,738 for the basketball court and $6,400 for a walkway. The basketball court will go in the new section of the park, Assistant Mayor Paul Crampton Jr. said.

Marlys Palmer has spent 28 years being the best health and physical education professor she can be at Hagerstown Community College. She is a formidable opponent, motivator and teacher as the school's women's basketball coach. She even has an induction to the NJCAA Region XX Hall of Fame to prove it. But when it comes to comprehending some simple math, she's floored. "It's phenomenal," Palmer said. "I have 172 students this year. I average 120-140 students a semester. You start to do the math, it's huge.

In addition to City Park and Fairgrounds Park, Hagerstown has other parks that offer a variety of activities for families to enjoy. For more information, contact the Hagerstown Parks and Recreation Department at 301-739-8577, ext. 169. · Bloom Park - North Potomac Street at North Avenue. · Funkhouser Park - 570 Jefferson St. Playground equipment, basketball court. Home of the Hagerstown PONY League. · Hager Park - Frederick Street at Memorial Boulevard.

Funkhouser Park - On Jefferson Boulevard. Home of the Hagerstown PONY League and a basketball court. Hager Park - Intersection of Memorial Boulevard and Frederick Street. Playgrounds, pavilion. Home of the American Little League. Hamilton Playground - On Fairview Road. Playground equipment, volleyball court, half of a basketball court. Hellane Park - On Park Avenue and next to Hagers-town's reservoir in the West End. Restrooms, basketball courts, pavilion, playground equipment.

Hamilton Park project finished By DAN KULIN / Staff Writer Sometimes when Bobbie Elmlinger walks around her Hagerstown neighborhood she feels like Santa Claus. That's because Elmlinger played a major role in bringing new swing sets, slides and a basketball court to Hamilton Park off Fairview Road. The city paid for the purchases and installation, which cost about $32,400. But the idea for the project came from the community through the Northwest Neighbors, Neighborhoods First group.

Greencastle-Antrim High School officials Tuesday shared fond memories of Cali L. Schroyer, who died Monday from injuries sustained in a Sunday car accident on Pa. 16. She died just five days shy of her 20th birthday. Schroyer of 492 S. Carlisle St. was pronounced dead at 1:30 p.m. Monday by York County Deputy Coroner Stephen Cosey, Pennsylvania State Police said. The cause of death was listed as head trauma. Troopers said the accident occurred on Sunday at about 12:05 p.m. on Pa. 16 (Buchanan Trail East)

FUNKSTOWN - Construction could begin on the first leg of Southern Boulevard, aka the Funkstown bypass, this coming year, and work will continue on a new basketball court in Funkstown Community Park. Work has already begun on the basketball court in the new part of the park and should be ready by the spring, said Town Clerk/Treasurer Brenda Haynes. A new walkway also will be built, from the new pavilion on the third-base side of the ballpark to the existing sidewalk. The basketball court costs $41,738 and the 320 feet of walkway cost $6,400, town officials said when the project was approved in October.

Fairgrounds Park covers about 70 acres northeast of downtown Hagerstown. Entrances to the park are off North Cleveland and North Cannon avenues. Two pavilions for family picnics and other events can be rented for $50 by city residents and for $70 by nonresidents. The park has softball and soccer fields; a Little League baseball field; a BMX-style, off-road bicycle racetrack; an in-line skating rink; a skateboard park; a playground; basketball courts; and a one-mile loop trail for walking, running and biking.

Plan for school off Sharpsburg Pike OK'd The Washington County Planning Commission on Monday approved the site plan for an elementary school in the Westfields development off Sharpsburg Pike. Senior Planner Lisa Pietro said the 83,000-square-foot school will be on 13.6 acres. The school property will include a baseball field, basketball court and play areas, Pietro said. The two-story school's capacity will be 745 students, she said. Cell tower plan approved by panel The site plan for a 190-foot cell tower west of Clear Spring was approved Monday by the Washington County Planning Commission.

Hagerstown Community College officials announced Wednesday that the school's basketball court and first floor arena space will be named after former athletic director and men's basketball coach Jim Brown, a leading advocate for the facility. Although the court will be known as the “Coach Jim Brown Court and Basketball Arena,” the building that houses the basketball court will still be known as the Athletic, Recreation and Community Center, Elizabeth K. Stull, HCC's director of public information, said Wednesday.

The Hagerstown Community College men's basketball program is about to go into orbit. The Hawks are like the astronauts who used to routinely take trips on the space shuttle. They are about to explore a new frontier that only a few have experienced before them. OK, it may not be the quiet and awe-inspiring vastness of outer space, but it's a galaxy with its own stars. It's the NJCAA Division I national tournament. It happens yearly, but for teams like HCC, most see it about as often as Halley's Comet.

There is more to Donte Thomas than meets the eye. He has multiple personalities on the basketball court. There is more to him than he shows. The Hagerstown Community College guard has changed his identity over the course of the year as his game evolved and the Hawks' needs revolved. And because of it, Thomas and HCC are out to change the perspective of Mid-Atlantic basketball. Thomas was known as a scorer coming out of high school, but now he's a leading assist man in junior college basketball.

If you are looking for me at a high school basketball game, I'm not hard to find. You can usually spot me sitting in a secluded, empty spot in the bleachers, away from the maddening crowds. I'm probably wearing jeans and a fleece pullover that's in one of 50 shades of gray. I'm not allowed to wear red, green, purple or blue because that would make me biased. I try very hard not to drink anything with sour grapes as an ingredient. And I like “zebras,” although bias prevents me from writing about or feeding them.

Thomas Blake visited the Great Plains in August with the idea of attending the University of North Dakota. He also had thoughts of attending the school in Grand Forks to continue his athletic career. Blake, who showed skills as a soccer player while at St. Maria Goretti, decided to make the venture in basketball. “When I came here I chose basketball because I felt I had to prove something to myself,” Blake said. “I proved I could play soccer.” Blake, who was a Herald-Mail first-team All-Washington County soccer star, toiled on the basketball court for the Gaels for a couple of years.

Optimists believe you don't know what the future holds unless you take a shot. In many cases, that's easier said than done. No matter how confident most of us think we are, there is always a little self-doubt. We hate failure. Thick skin isn't standard equipment. Still, there are guys out there who will take that chance, sticking their toe in the pool to check the water. Will Taylor became one of those guys. Now you won't get him out of the deep end. If you ask him, the Williamsport native probably would admit he didn't dive into his opportunity.

Greencastle-Antrim High School officials Tuesday shared fond memories of Cali L. Schroyer, who died Monday from injuries sustained in a Sunday car accident on Pa. 16. She died just five days shy of her 20th birthday. Schroyer of 492 S. Carlisle St. was pronounced dead at 1:30 p.m. Monday by York County Deputy Coroner Stephen Cosey, Pennsylvania State Police said. The cause of death was listed as head trauma. Troopers said the accident occurred on Sunday at about 12:05 p.m. on Pa. 16 (Buchanan Trail East)

Recently in class I was reviewing a grammar assignment with a teenage boy. His stance was indifferent, and I could tell that the material did not interest him. As I looked at his expression, I remembered how excited he was on the basketball court the previous evening. "Man, you had a great game last night," I said with a smile. In an instant his countenance changed. "Thanks," he said, with a sheepish grin. He seemed more willing to listen after that. Perhaps he sensed that I care.

CLEAR SPRING -- The first time Clear Spring and Williamsport get together next season in boys basketball will be interesting from a coaching standpoint. Williamsport junior varsity coach Ryan Grabill has been named the new boys varsity head coach at Clear Spring, replacing Mark Shives, who stepped down recently. Grabill accepted the position on Tuesday afternoon. "It's bittersweet, but an exciting opportunity," said Grabill, who has known the Wildcats' colors all his life.

FUNKSTOWN - Construction could begin on the first leg of Southern Boulevard, aka the Funkstown bypass, this coming year, and work will continue on a new basketball court in Funkstown Community Park. Work has already begun on the basketball court in the new part of the park and should be ready by the spring, said Town Clerk/Treasurer Brenda Haynes. A new walkway also will be built, from the new pavilion on the third-base side of the ballpark to the existing sidewalk. The basketball court costs $41,738 and the 320 feet of walkway cost $6,400, town officials said when the project was approved in October.