Pat’s hand

No, Pat Pinkard didn't actually invent girls travel basketball.

She did, at least in the Richmond area, put wheels on the concept, made it shine and gave it a motherly, loving shove in the right direction.

There are numerous year-round hoops options available now, but until the mid-1980s there was no local travel basketball - the ball stopped bouncing at the end of the high school season.

Pinkard discovered that the expensive way when daughter Julie, a Monacan High School player, had to commute to the D.C. suburbs to play for the Virginians.

Pinkard had a limited basketball background.

"I never played," she said. "I was a majorette in high school. As a mother, I was more into cheering and Girl Scouts."

In October 1984, she founded the James River Athletic Club.

"I did it for the love of the children," Pinkard said.

The first teams were the Rapids. Later, they became the Blaze.

Since the inaugural '85 season - then with three teams - James River rosters have been a Who's Who of girls hoops in Central Virginia.

Among the first "name players" was Meadowbrook's flashy Mandy Saunders, the first Times-Dispatch girls player of the year, who later sparkled at Providence.

That opened the floodgates for stars. Katie Tracy, Katie Marsh, Jami Lange, Cat Nicholson, Jaye Marolla, Angel Ross, Megan Silva, Anna Prillaman, Maria Giovannetti, Michele Cosel, Cammy Desmond and the Suber twins, Narissa and Anora, represent a sprinkling of a glowing cast.

"We've got a good reputation," Pinkard said. "What we want to do is compete on the national Division I level and show off our girls - give them exposure."

Pinkard said she has been "to at least 15 nationals and knows most of the coaches."

At least 115 James River alumni have taken their jump shots to college.

Just last year, the U-16 Blaze featured four D-I signees: Richelle Price (Western Carolina), Barbara Sitton (Davidson), Brianna Dillard (Gardner-Webb) and Chelsea Coward (Longwood).

This year's 16-U team (fourth in nation as 15s) includes Andrea Bertrand from Central Region champ Cosby, Britt Hill from region runner-up Atlee and All-Metro pick Alyssa Frye from Thomas Dale.

Gaze at the All-Metro teams the past quarter century and a good percentage wore the Blaze colors.

There was a time when James River enjoyed a monopoly with the area's elite. No more.

Rival organizations such as the Xplosion, U-Turn, Surge, Storm, Capital City and Three-Point Line have taken root with similar aspirations.

"There is just so much drama now, and I can't handle the drama. The talent is split," Pinkard said of the current landscape.

Prillaman, who led Midlothian to the 2000 Group AAA title before going on to play for Virginia, says this about Pinkard's program: "It's made a big impact on my life, not just with basketball but in relationships I've formed. I still call Pat at any time of the night, just to chat when I'm stressed. She's so in touch."

Tony Suber, father of Anora and Narissa (who played at Drexel), is now Blaze vice president.

"The Blaze has been a big part of our family, and my daughters wouldn't have done what they did without it," Suber said.

Pinkard has made noise about stepping down. Told that, Suber couldn't restrain a laugh. He said: "I've heard that from time to time, but as long as there is Blaze, Pat will be there. She is the Blaze, and the Blaze is Pat."