Play begins one month from today, on March 21st, as Danville again hosts the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II Men’s National Basketball Tournament. Preparations for the games at Danville Area Community College are well underway, but Danville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Jeanie Cooke says they could use some more volunteers. She outlined some of the things the volunteers do.
‘’They’ll help in the hospitality room. They’ll sell game tickets. They’ll check-in the over 100 coaches that come from four year schools to look at the talent. They may do PA, they may be hosts which is one of the most important volunteer jobs we have because they are the connection between the community and the basketball teams that come in,’’ said Cooke.
This is the 24th year that Danville has hosted the National Tournament, and Cooke is proud of that fact.
‘’It means a lot to the community. One: there’s a lot of community pride involved – we’re very proud of this tournament and being able to keep it here in a small town for so many years. It also has major economic impact on the city because there’s a lot of dead time between the time when a team has their first game and their second game, or their third game. And so they’re out in the community,’’ says Cooke. ‘’They’re going to the restaurants, they’re going shopping, and they’re enjoying everything else we have here in the community.’’
The games will be played in the Mary Miller Gymnasium at Danville Area Community College March 21st – 25th. If you would like to join the tournament volunteers, contact Cooke at the Danville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau office at (217) 442-2096.
