GBC girls’ basketball celebrates 21st season, tryouts this month

 Guilderland Basketball Club for Girls will be celebrating its 21st season starting with tryouts for girls in grades 3 to 8 on Sept. 21 and 22 at Guilderland High School. 

 GBC Girls started back in 1992 as an additional opportunity for girls to play basketball. The only pre-existing program at that time was the Catholic Youth Organization program and it could only accommodate a small amount of the many who wanted to play. 

 Basketball’s popularity was soaring, especially for girls. At the same time, several neighboring towns were experiencing the same issue. Looking for a way to meet the growing demand for girls’ basketball teams, a group of coaches, including present GBC board member Corey Bellack, broke away from the CYO program and formed the first Capital District Basketball League.

 With area boys’ teams facing the same situation, the groups combined their efforts and each club put one boys’ and one girls’ team into the league.  Thus, the Guilderland Basketball Club was born. 

 As popularity grew, not only in Guilderland but across the Capital District, the need for separate clubs and leagues grew, leading to the present day boys and girls leagues. Today, the girls’ club fields at least five teams from grades 3 through 8 with most competing in the Capital District Girls Basketball League against other clubs from around the area. 

 Focusing early on basic skills and knowledge of the game, and working to improve and expand those skills as players go up through the divisions, this philosophy has laid the foundation for numerous championship teams throughout the years. Guilderland won the league championship in 1993, the second year of its existence.

 It is an understatement to say that GBC Girls has seen tremendous success with its program.  As the starting point for many Guilderland High School players, GBC has seen numerous graduates of the program go on to find success at the high school level and beyond.

 Players can register for GBC Girls tryouts at www.eteamz.com/gbcgirls.

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