ATHOL — Athol area women now have an opportunity to hit the courts.
On Aug. 1, the Athol Area YMCA introduced its recreational women’s summer basketball league with four teams playing two games.
The opener marked the first time that the YMCA offered a women’s basketball league in its 156 years of service.
In its two matchups, HoopZ defeated the Winchendon School, 53-51, while Uptown Package defeated Run Like the Winded (Kessler Investments), 30-27.
Haley Coretta of HoopZ scored the most points of any participant, with 17. Paige Anderson led Winchendon School with 16 points, Jill Ninteau led Run Like the Winded (Kessler Investments) with 11 points and Emily Casella led Uptown Package with 11 points as well.
The league will last 10 week — eight weeks for the regular season and two weeks for playoff matchups. Games are held on Wednesday nights at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the YMCA.
Zachary Skinner, the Sports Director of the Athol Area YMCA, was appreciative of the sponsors for the first ever women’s basketball league held at the YMCA.
In a statement, Skinner wrote: “Zachary Skinner, the Athol Area YMCA Sports & Rec Director, would like to reach out and thank all the sponsors who sponsored a team to make this women’s league possible! He hopes to continue this league in the future and make it a growing success each season!”
Skinner listed three teams when thanking sponsors, Run Like the Winded (Kessler Investments), Uptown Package Store and the Winchendon School.