The time is come for another season of Upward Basketball for boys and girls in the Neosho area.

The league is co-sponsored by the Neosho First Baptist Church and Neosho United Methodist Church. The league will hold its second evaluation tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at the First Baptist Church. There will be another evaluation night on Nov. 24., from 6 to 8 p.m. at the same location.

The evaluations are for boys and girls who are interested in playing basketball or cheerleading.
The grades for the league are from kindergarten through sixth grade and it is open to anybody, regardless of residence.

Last year there were 115 kids who took part in the league between the two activities. This winter will be the third year for Upward Basketball in Neosho.

Practices will be held in December and games will start on Jan. 10, the first of an eight-week season which plays every Saturday.

“We focus on building confidence, teamwork, sportsmanship, those are some of the big things we teach,” said Gary Massey, the director of the league. “In addition to practice, we give them some devotion. We teach the spiritual side of it.”

All jerseys — reversible — are provided through Upward Basketball. Uniforms for cheerleaders are also provided through Upward Basketball. The coaches and referees are also taken care of by the league.

The cost is $55 per child, regardless of basketball or cheerleading, and the kids can keep their uniforms after the league is over. You can sign-up by contacting either of the churches.  The United Methodist Church is at 224 S. Wood St., and the phone number is 451-2310. The First Baptist Church is at 12325 E. Highway 86 and the number is 451-2393.