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Ken's kids having a ball
The recent postal strike meant that letters sent across the country didn't get to their destinations on time.
But for novice basketball side Hemel Sharks it also resulted in players as young as 14 taking on some of the top university teams at the world-famous 02 Arena in London.
"We heard about this NBA tournament," said Sharks coach Ken Corbin, "it was a an open invitation tournament with two separate leagues – a novice one and professional one.
"The mail strike meant our application to play in the novice league didn't get there in time so we ended up playing in the professional league."
Even though the side, which has an average age of 18, lost both games against teams made up of top players in their mid-20s, they certainly took something away from it.
"It was a real challenge but they all got a lot out of it," he added.
The club's 20 or so members have Ken's sons to thank for the club starting up a little over two years ago:
"My two sons wanted to play and all we had was an outdoor court in Warners End behind the shops.
"We started hiring the court and that's how it all started – it was me and my son's friends."
With a focus on fun, the club rarely enters serious competitions, but should the opportunity arise they are unlikely to turn it down.
Ken, who only moved to the area from London five years ago, is proud to be continuing Hemel Hempstead's basketball tradition.
He recalls going to see Team Ovaltine play in London, back in the late 1980s.
Sponsored by the Ovaltine factory, the Hemel-based side had Americans and Canadians playing for them in the country's top league.
"I bet you if you ask some people in the town about their memories they would tell you about the 6ft 2ins guards from America they used to have lodging with them," Ken added.
With any luck, a few of Ken's protoges could make that step up one day in the future.
The club is for people over 14 and meets once a week at Sportspace in Hemel Hempstead.
Ken also coaches five to 12-year-olds every Wednesday at the same venue.
For more information on the club log on to www.hemelsharks.org.uk
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Weather for Hemel Hempstead
Thursday 23 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: West
