Friday, June 21, 2002 | 8:51 a.m.
Last year, Ted Boyack watched with great pride as his daughter, Brittney, played for the middle school basketball team at Lawrence Junior High School.
On Thursday, Boyack stood at a podium at Greenspun Middle School imploring other parents to help ensure that Brittney, and hundreds of other boys and girls like her, can pursue their hoop dreams again next year.
"It's important to me as a parent that my daughter have the opportunities, and other people's sons and daughters have the opportunities I had growing up," Boyack said at a rally of close to 200 people that kicked off a fund-raising drive to save middle school basketball in Southern Nevada.
"We believe deeply in the importance of those programs ... and it would be an unfortunate legacy of the Clark County School District to have to explain why they've eliminated middle school sports," Boyack said.
During the 2001-2002 school year, the District announced it would cut middle school basketball -- the only sport played at area middle schools in recent years -- due to budgetary constraints.
Since then, Boyack has led a group of parents attempting to reverse that decision. To do so, he said Thursday, they need to raise $345,214 by Oct. 1, though raising a minimum of $240,000 could result in the reinstatement of a shorter 10-game season.
"We felt it was important the parents got involved and initiated the charge forward," Clark County Athletic Director Larry McKay said. "It's important to get the message out that it's not just the School District out there crying for more money."
Wearing yellow buttons with the message "Save Middle School Athletics," parents began donating money at a booth set up for the rally. Bill McGee, president of the Southern Nevada Officials Association, got the ball rolling, contributing a $10,000 check on behalf of his organization.
"We (officials) too were alarmed when we heard middle school basketball was in jeopardy," McGee said.
Greenspun's defending girls championship squad performed for the crowd, as did a drill team from Nevada Cheer Gym -- many of whom would regularly perform at middle school games. Those in attendance also heard from Coronado High School student Erica Santigate, a former middle school basketball player.
"Playing basketball helped me stay out of trouble and keep up my grades," Santigate said. "It's such a great feeling to be able to represent your school. I just hope this wonderful tradition can continue for years to come."
Boyack said he feels confident individuals and corporations throughout Southern Nevada will help meet the financial demands in time to save the programs.
"I think raising the $340,000 is a small price to pay for what the community receives in return," Boyack said. "I'm very optimistic the community, especially the corporate sector, will get behind it."
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