By TIM GUERCIO

THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

NATCHEZ — Basketballs bounced amid the sound of sneakers squeaking on the court in the gymnasium of the Margaret Martin Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday night as adult league basketball players practiced for the upcoming season.

The Natchez-Adams County Recreation Commission is sponsoring a new adult league this year and play gets underway at 6 p.m. June 6, said program director Fay Minor.

The league has six teams signed up already and all games will be played in the Margaret Martin gym this year, Minor said. The cost per team for the year is $400.

“The money pays for the two referees per game, and the power in the gym,” Minor said. “We want 8-10 teams this year in the league, and you can have as many players as you want on your team.”

Felix Jackson of Natchez said he has never played recreation-ball before.

“My friends called me to play on their team, so I did,” Jackson said. “The teams so far have eight-to-10 players per team, and we will play three games per night every Tuesday and Thursday night. One at 6 p.m., one at 7 and one at 8.”

The players will be able to practice in the Margaret Martin gym on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays Minor said.

Another player from Natchez is Demetrius Clark who said he used to play Amateur Athletic Union ball when he lived in Dallas.

“We put a team together to play, because this is what I love to do,” Clark said.

The games will be played on a full court for four quarters, with an eight-minute clock per quarter.

There will be an 18 to 20 game schedule once all of the teams have signed up, Minor said.

Volleyball, anyone?

Minor said she also would like to start a beach volleyball league and would like to have teams playing games by the end of July.

The volleyball court will be adjacent to the Natchez Community Swimming Pool and will be a sand court, Minor said

“We want to have 8 – 12 players on a team, with a six man rotation on the court,” Minor said. “If we have rain we will go indoors.”

People interested in signing up basketball or volleyball can call Minor at 601-597-3440.