Berryessa/Milpitas National Junior Basketball Battle Silicon Valley Chapters for Championship

The Berryessa/Milpitas National Junior Basketball chapter entered the championship series tournament this weekend, where they competed against 13 other chapters in Silicon Valley.

Three of 11 teams which competed–ranging from 3rd grade to middle school–won their games and will move on to the next round on Feb. 27.

They are two girls teams–one is 3rd/4th and the other is 5th/6th graders–and a boys team of 7th/8th graders, according to Julie McMullen, president of the Berryessa and Milpitas league.

Championship day is Mar. 6 when 18 teams will square off at Willow Glen Middle and High schools.

It's all a toss up. Some of the teams haven't played each other this season due to the numbers of teams in the Silicon Valley. But last year, a boys team (5th/6th grade) led by Coach Bill McMullen made it to the final round where they lost in the end.

But it's not about winning, it's about kids participating and having fun, said Mel Robertson, NJB Silicon Valley sectional director and northern California regional director.

On Saturday, Coach Robert Staley Sr.’s Boys Division 1 Team 2 (7th/8th grade) lost against a Palo Alto team after a 9-0 regular season. 

“It’s a huge growth opportunity for the kids to go out there to prove themselves," said Staley. But more important than winning, he said the league gives young players opportunities to improve their skills.

As a coach, “what I try to do is see where they’re at in the beginning,” said Staley.
“I try to bring out their strengths.”

The Berryessa/Milpitas league's only 5th-6th grade girls team, The Sparks, beat a team from West San Jose on Saturday. They remain undefeated after emerging from their regular season 9-0.

"Get it!" yelled Loridean Haro from the stands last weekend as the girls squared off with a team from Saratoga. Out of five children, her daughters Klaritza and Isabelle play in NJB.

"This coach has been fantastic with getting girls to move out of their comfort zone," said Haro, who volunteers as secretary-treasurer of the Berryessa/Milpitas chapter.

"He giving everybody the opportunity to make the shots," she said, "and always pushing everyone to make it a team effort."

Team mom Marquette Davis, whose daughters Kyanna and Lavonne both play for The Sparks, said, "This team just really came together this year." She was cheering in the stands at the Independence High School gym last Sunday for the last regular game of the season.

David Davis, Marquette's husband, grew up in Milpitas and coaches the team. Assistant coach Robert Patterson's middle child Alaina plays on the team.

“I think it's a good time for parents to be with their kids," said Patterson. "It gives me time to enjoy them," he said, and have more time to play.

With all the parent effort and participation, the Berryessa/Milpitas league almost disbanded two years ago. Robertson would not go into details, but one source said the league may have fell into mismanagement among the parents.

Chuck Mondave, who is the chapter director, stepped in to help, said Robertson.

"I wanted to have a program in the north valley so the kids that wanted to play here didn't have to go somewhere else," said Robertson. They held meetings with residents to recruit new members. 

Then Julie McMullen stepped up to be president this year to take on a more robust role, said Robertson.  

"They have more teams this year and than they had last year," he said. "And I expect more teams next year than this year. At one time, they used to have about 28-30 teams." This season, there were 17 teams, 11 which competed in the championship tournament.

The chapter has bounced back and added four new "rookie" teams this season comprised of kindergarten, first and second grade boys and girls, giving even younger kids a chance to play. And new group of parents to coach them. 

“It’s my first year in the league and I have no complaints,” Coach Staley said.

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