Ryan Ballard’s recent resignation as Plymouth girls basketball coach has left some scrambling.
Sure, Wildcats athletic director Chaka Johnson will have to quickly interview candidates so a new coach is in place for offseason activities this summer.
But Ballard’s departure also left the Summer League Shootout, the annual girls basketball summer league created by former Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan Hall of Famers Bob Blohm and Fred Thomann nearly 30 years ago, without management.
The Shootout has had several leaders over the years, from former Canton girls coach (and current Northville athletic director) Brian Samulski to former Mustangs coach Todd Gudith, who passed the baton to Ballard after departing Northville three years ago.
The tradition appeared at an end this summer – until Salem coach Rod Wells and assistant Evan Paputa stepped up to save it in late April.
“We wanted to carry on the tradition because I know a lot of coaches look forward to giving their kids an opportunity to get playing time like this,” said Wells, who guided Salem to the Division 1 state semifinals in 2023. “It was unexpectedly put into our laps, but the previous group from Plymouth, including Ryan Ballard, did a fantastic job. But it has been a lot of work.”
Wells would know firsthand.
He grew up playing in the league, when it still featured boys games, while starring at Ann Arbor Skyline.
Since Wells took over the Rocks five seasons ago, Salem’s gym has hosted games every summer, giving the program an early look at its roster months before the season tips off in November.
“I feel like the dean of the coaches around here, whereas five years ago I was just the baby,” Wells joked. “It’s different from just signing your team up and showing up. Now I have to make sure the money is right and handle everything teams need. Some can only play at 6 p.m., some can only play early games. Some prefer to only play at Novi. Some don’t want to play teams in their league. There’s a lot of logistics that make it interesting.”
The league has operated for decades out of Plymouth-Canton Educational Park – the shared campus of Canton, Plymouth and Salem – as well as gyms in Northville and Novi. Some sites run three games simultaneously, and most teams play at least two games per night twice a week.
Every game is staffed by two MHSAA-registered officials, with teams playing two 20-minute halves.
Several state powers and championship programs have participated each summer, including Belleville, Farmington Hills Mercy and Bloomfield Hills Marian.
“We’re not changing anything,” Paputa said. “We’re working off the template that was set many years ago. We’re just a little light on teams right now, but it is still early in the summer. I’m sure some teams looked elsewhere when there was talk the league might not continue after Ballard resigned.”
Still, the show will go on.
The Shootout hosted its first games on Monday, June 1, and will continue two nights a week for teams seeking offseason competition.
“We have really, really good competition,” Paputa said. “It’s a great opportunity for teams to get better and continue to grow.”
Added Wells: “The refs are certified, the games start on time and the money is simple. The games are competitive and it’s not too much stress on the kids. In the past, we’ve even invited colleges to come out so the kids can get exposure. It’s a great environment to play competitive games with minimal stress and no one worrying about wins and losses.”
For now, thanks to Wells and Paputa, the Shootout will continue.
“Personally, I’m from this community, so I’ve seen what this summer league has done for players,” Paputa said. “I just have too much respect for what Bob and Fred started, and I couldn’t let it go by the wayside on my watch.”
Summer League Shootout game rules
For teams interested in joining, contact Wells and Paputa at salemgirlsbasketballvarsity@pccsk12.com. It’s an opportunity they don’t want teams to pass up, especially considering how quickly they had to act to preserve the league’s future.
Brandon Folsom covers high school sports in metro Detroit for Hometown Life and the Detroit Free Press. Follow him on his new X.com account at @folsomwrites.
This article originally appeared on Hometownlife.com: Tradition of Plymouth-Canton girls basketball Summer League Shootout continues
Reporting by Brandon Folsom, Hometownlife.com / Hometownlife.com
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