Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Skills Challenge to be Held in Orlando
--24 Regional Competition Winners to Compete at the Finals on May 16--
New York, NY, May 14, 2008—The National Finals of the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Skills Challenge sponsored by Singulair will be held at the Orlando Magic’s practice facility -- RDV Sportsplex -- in Orlando, Fla., on Friday, May 16. Hosted by NBA legend Bob Lanier and the Orlando Magic Community Ambassadors Nick Anderson and Bo Outlaw, 24 finalists will have the opportunity to dazzle the crowd during an exciting series of timed fundamental basketball skills tests, which include passing, dribbling and shooting. One competitor from each gender and age group will be crowned national champion during an awards ceremony in Orlando on May 17.
“The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA program not only teaches children basketball fundamentals, but also imparts transferable life skills, such as teamwork and sportsmanship,” says Houston Rocket’s forward Shane Battier, who serves as a member of the program’s Advisory Board. “My participation in youth basketball programs gave me a strong sense of self, kept me healthy and active and helped to develop my love of the game, all of which were essential in getting me to where I am today.”
Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Skills Challenge National Finalists
GIRLS
7-8 year olds
Mya Thomas- Orieda, FL
Angelina Coronado- San Antonio, TX
Catti Sydney- Woodlake, CA
9-10 year olds
Shaniqua Tobias- New Orleans, LA
Leanne Ellis- N. Ft Myers, FL
Emily Struck- Mayville, WI
11-12 year olds
Molly McCausland- Millbury, MA
Selena Benz- Cleveland, OH
Shay Colley-Smith- Brampton, Ontario
13-14 year olds
Sierra Contreras- Austin, TX
Elizabeth Manuel- Mandeville, LA
Alexis Prince- Maitland, FL
BOYS
7-8 year olds
Dyllan Young- Gardena, CA
Michael Brandley- Houston, TX
Brendan Martin- South Setauket, NY
9-10 year olds
Brady Huebbe- Peru, IL
Jake Zeitler- Luxemburg, WI
Joe Murphy- Worcester, MA
11-12 year olds
Turrell Pietz-Noble- Mesa, AZ
Jameel Ali- Sicklerville, NJ
Weston Graddy- Fort Myers, FL
13-14 year olds Taylor Loeffler- Peoria, AZ
Theodore Hassan- Fayetteville, GA
Savion Byfield- Richmond Hill, NY
Participants were determined following local and regional competitions held in cities across the country over the past four months. The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Skills Challenge competitions showcased the top boys and girls in four age brackets from 26 markets: 7-8-year-olds, 9-10-year-olds, 11-12-year-olds and 13-14-year-olds. The boy and girl with the best scores from each age bracket in the regional competitions were ranked nationally against those in the other 25 markets. The top three scorers from each age and gender group were then selected as the national finalists.
The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Skills Challenge, sponsored by Singulair is a free program for boys and girls ages 7 to 14 in which they compete in time-based, half-court obstacle-course competitions that demonstrate fundamental basketball skills, which help to promote an active lifestyle. To date, 292 local competitions have been held, reaching more than 52,000 youngsters.
About the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Completing its seventh season, the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA, a program of NBA Cares, has grown the game of youth basketball through recognition programs such as the Gatorade Championship Series, National Skills Competition, Pledge to be a S.T.A.R Summer Camps, Clinic Series, National Team and Coach of the Year. The program has reached more than ten million players, parents and coaches globally, providing a support structure that encourages participation and makes the game fun and rewarding for all. Young players can create a bond with the game while learning what it takes to be successful away from the court, all at no cost.
About SINGULAIR SINGULAIR is a prescription medicine approved to help control asthma in adults and children 12 months and older and for relief of symptoms of indoor and outdoor allergies (outdoor allergies in adults and children as young as 2 years and indoor allergies in adults and children as young as 6 months). SINGULAIR is not a rescue medication. Always carry your child’s prescribed rescue inhaler for emergencies or sudden symptoms. For asthma, SINGULAIR should be taken once a day, in the evening as prescribed, whether or not your child has asthma symptoms. If asthma symptoms get worse or your child needs to increase the use of fast-acting medicines, call the doctor at once. Side effects are generally mild and vary by age, and may include headache, ear infection, sore throat, and upper respiratory infection. Side effects generally did not stop patients from taking SINGULAIR.
Through financial support from Merck, information materials and resources for children and parents will be made available at Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Skills Challenge events and online by visiting AthletesAndAsthma.com.
New York, NY, May 14, 2008—The National Finals of the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Skills Challenge sponsored by Singulair will be held at the Orlando Magic’s practice facility -- RDV Sportsplex -- in Orlando, Fla., on Friday, May 16. Hosted by NBA legend Bob Lanier and the Orlando Magic Community Ambassadors Nick Anderson and Bo Outlaw, 24 finalists will have the opportunity to dazzle the crowd during an exciting series of timed fundamental basketball skills tests, which include passing, dribbling and shooting. One competitor from each gender and age group will be crowned national champion during an awards ceremony in Orlando on May 17.
“The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA program not only teaches children basketball fundamentals, but also imparts transferable life skills, such as teamwork and sportsmanship,” says Houston Rocket’s forward Shane Battier, who serves as a member of the program’s Advisory Board. “My participation in youth basketball programs gave me a strong sense of self, kept me healthy and active and helped to develop my love of the game, all of which were essential in getting me to where I am today.”
Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Skills Challenge National Finalists
GIRLS
7-8 year olds
Mya Thomas- Orieda, FL
Angelina Coronado- San Antonio, TX
Catti Sydney- Woodlake, CA
9-10 year olds
Shaniqua Tobias- New Orleans, LA
Leanne Ellis- N. Ft Myers, FL
Emily Struck- Mayville, WI
11-12 year olds
Molly McCausland- Millbury, MA
Selena Benz- Cleveland, OH
Shay Colley-Smith- Brampton, Ontario
13-14 year olds
Sierra Contreras- Austin, TX
Elizabeth Manuel- Mandeville, LA
Alexis Prince- Maitland, FL
BOYS
7-8 year olds
Dyllan Young- Gardena, CA
Michael Brandley- Houston, TX
Brendan Martin- South Setauket, NY
9-10 year olds
Brady Huebbe- Peru, IL
Jake Zeitler- Luxemburg, WI
Joe Murphy- Worcester, MA
11-12 year olds
Turrell Pietz-Noble- Mesa, AZ
Jameel Ali- Sicklerville, NJ
Weston Graddy- Fort Myers, FL
13-14 year olds Taylor Loeffler- Peoria, AZ
Theodore Hassan- Fayetteville, GA
Savion Byfield- Richmond Hill, NY
Participants were determined following local and regional competitions held in cities across the country over the past four months. The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Skills Challenge competitions showcased the top boys and girls in four age brackets from 26 markets: 7-8-year-olds, 9-10-year-olds, 11-12-year-olds and 13-14-year-olds. The boy and girl with the best scores from each age bracket in the regional competitions were ranked nationally against those in the other 25 markets. The top three scorers from each age and gender group were then selected as the national finalists.
The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Skills Challenge, sponsored by Singulair is a free program for boys and girls ages 7 to 14 in which they compete in time-based, half-court obstacle-course competitions that demonstrate fundamental basketball skills, which help to promote an active lifestyle. To date, 292 local competitions have been held, reaching more than 52,000 youngsters.
About the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Completing its seventh season, the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA, a program of NBA Cares, has grown the game of youth basketball through recognition programs such as the Gatorade Championship Series, National Skills Competition, Pledge to be a S.T.A.R Summer Camps, Clinic Series, National Team and Coach of the Year. The program has reached more than ten million players, parents and coaches globally, providing a support structure that encourages participation and makes the game fun and rewarding for all. Young players can create a bond with the game while learning what it takes to be successful away from the court, all at no cost.
About SINGULAIR SINGULAIR is a prescription medicine approved to help control asthma in adults and children 12 months and older and for relief of symptoms of indoor and outdoor allergies (outdoor allergies in adults and children as young as 2 years and indoor allergies in adults and children as young as 6 months). SINGULAIR is not a rescue medication. Always carry your child’s prescribed rescue inhaler for emergencies or sudden symptoms. For asthma, SINGULAIR should be taken once a day, in the evening as prescribed, whether or not your child has asthma symptoms. If asthma symptoms get worse or your child needs to increase the use of fast-acting medicines, call the doctor at once. Side effects are generally mild and vary by age, and may include headache, ear infection, sore throat, and upper respiratory infection. Side effects generally did not stop patients from taking SINGULAIR.
Through financial support from Merck, information materials and resources for children and parents will be made available at Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Skills Challenge events and online by visiting AthletesAndAsthma.com.
