The 2001 basketball season for the Natchez Recreation Department’s Youth Basketball League, Adult Basketball League and Men’s Industrial/Business Basketball League is rapidly approaching.

Registration and draft for the Youth Basketball League will take place from Jan. 13-25.

League play begins on Jan. 27 and ends on March 24.

The league consists of three divisions: the pee-wee division (5-7 years of age), the third and fourth grade division (8-9 years of age) and the fifth and sixth grade division (10-12 years of age).

The pee wee division will play its games from 8:30 to 10 a.m. on Saturday mornings from 8:30 to 10 a.m. and from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Monday evenings. The division tournament and awards ceremony will be held on March 26.

The third and fourth grade division will play its games from 10:15 a.m. to noon on Saturday mornings and from 6:30- to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday evenings. The division tournament and awards ceremony will be held on March 28.

The fifth and sixth grade division will play its games from 12:15 to 2 p.m. on Saturday afternoons and from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday evenings. The division tournament and awards ceremony will be held on March 29.

Registration for the Men’s Industrial/Business League, which is held at the program coordinator’s office at the Duncan Park Golf Shop, is now through Friday, Dec. 29, at 5 p.m. The fee is $500 a team and only the first eight teams to register will make up this league.

Each of the eight teams will play each other twice in league play, which begins Jan. 13 and ends on March 31. There will also be a mid-season all-star game and a post-season tournament.

Games will be from 6 to 10 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Fan admission is $2 for adults and 50 cents for youths.

Registration and draft for the Youth Basketball League will take place from Jan. 13-25.

League play begins on Jan. 27 and ends on March 24.

The league consists of three divisions: the pee-wee division (5-7 years of age), the third and fourth grade division (8-9 years of age) and the fifth and sixth grade division (10-12 years of age).

The pee wee division will play its games from 8:30-10 a.m. on Saturday mornings and from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Monday evenings. The division tournament and awards will be held on March 26.

The third and fourth grade division will play its games from 10:15 a.m.-12 p.m. on Saturday mornings and from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday evenings. The division tournament and awards will be held on March 28.

The fifth and sixth grade division will play its games from 12:15 to 2 p.m. on Saturday afternoons and from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday evenings. The division tournament and awards will be held on March 29.

League play for the Adult Basketball League begins on Jan. 13 and ends on March 11. The league’s all-star game will be held on Feb. 18. The league tournament will take place on March 17 with the tournament finals to be held on March 24.

All of the three league’s games will take place at the Martin Gymnasium.

For more information, call Wilbert Whittley, program coordinator, at 446-2762 or 443-1366 (answering service) or Recreation Director Ralph Tedder at 445-4927.