In the wake of the recent flooding here in West Virginia, there are much-appreciated relief efforts.
And then there's just relief.
On Wednesday, you could see the latter on the face of 13-year-old Lauren Dysart at the YMCA of Kanawha Valley.
There Dysart was, going through layup drills with her West Virginia Top Flight youth team in the YMCA's Hot Rod Hundley gymnasium, smile beaming. A volleyball net remained at halfcourt, left over from the prior group's activities.
But it didn't matter.
What mattered was Dysart and her friends, all girls from Elkview Middle School, all affected by the recent floods in the Clendenin area, were away from the tragedy, if only for a while. While names like Brad Paisley, Jimbo Fisher, Nick Saban, Bubba Watson and Jerry West have helped on the big stage, small acts of kindness are helping locally. In this case, Top Flight coach John Elmore reached out to the YMCA - and the response was open arms and an open gym.
"We lost all our practice space," Elmore said. "The two courts at Herbert Hoover [High School] and one at Elkview Middle are gone. We contacted Mary Cook and Monte Warner at the Y and explained the situation, that these kids needed a breather, that they needed to get away. They opened the gym to us free of cost."
Again, it's a small gesture, but the kind that's going on every day in these parts. The kind that's helping folks affected by the flooding make it from day to day.
Elmore, assisted on Wednesday by Marshall walk-on Ot Elmore, has been busy of late delivering hot meals through the Red Cross. A Pinch resident, he's had a time of it with roads washed away. Then again, he's seen families like that of Dysart, who saw her grandparents' home completely wrecked.
"It's been pretty bad," Dysart said. "Water destroyed everything. There was 13 to 15 feet of water and it basically wiped out everything. They are starting over."
Her grandmother, Kay Summers, was nearby. She said Lauren has been going to the Elkview Baptist Church and helping others within the flood zone. But Summers won't allow her granddaughter to help with her home for fear of emotional scars.
On Wednesday, though, there were just layups for Lauren Dysart and her teammates. There were just basketball drills. And there were just smiles.
"I just like that we can get back to normal for a while," Lauren said. "I just like that we can get back to basketball - and have fun with our friends."
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While on the subject of flooding and giving, I had a chance to speak with SSAC executive director Bernie Dolan on Wednesday.
"The response in regard to the schools has been incredible," Dolan said. "It's like schools are in a fraternity. When one is in dire need, the others are there. It's amazing how many have stepped forward.
"They might play you on a Friday night and try to beat you, but off the field they're there. There's been an outpouring of help."
He also said the organization has hired Wayne Ryan to take over for retiring Ray Londeree. And if that names sounds familiar, well, it should.
All Ryan did was take the Summers County girls basketball team to six Class AA state championships since 2000. The Bobcats reached the state tournament in 15 of his 21 years of coaching.
"Great hire," Dolan said.
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And finally . . .
If you're unaware, the NBA's Summer League season is underway.
WVU fans might want to follow along as ex-Mountaineer Devin Williams tries to make the Milwaukee Bucks roster.
Of course the team is led by Giannis Antetokoumpo, aka the "Greek Freak," a forward who will play point guard next season, according to coach Jason Kidd. Center Greg Monroe and forward Jabari Parker are there. Also, the team drafted 7-foot-1 Thon Maker from Australia.
In addition to Williams, Big 12 players Prince Ibeh of Texas and Le'Bryan Nash of Oklahoma State are on the Bucks' summer league team.
Another ex-Mountaineer, Jon Holton, popped up on something called the Miami Midnite team, which apparently is a professional development basketball team for Maccabi Haifa of the Israeli League. (If you missed the news, it just signed swingman Amit Simhon for two seasons.)
Holton had 27 points and 14 rebounds in his first Midnite game. I tried to get more information, but when I called the listed phone number I got "Triangle Financial Services." So there's that.
And if you're a Marshall fan, track the Charlotte Hornets' summer league team for news of James Kelly, who is being coached by Patrick Ewing. When I skimmed the Hornets' news I saw mention of ex-Kentucky player Aaron Harrison (the only contract player on the summer team) and ex-Illinois standout Brandon Paul, but nothing on Kelly.
He's there though, so follow the bouncing ball and follow along.
Contact Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827 or mitchvingle@wvgazettemail.com. Follow him on Twitter @MitchVingle.