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, Correspondent
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Sponsors of the Raleigh Jaguars Amateur Athletic Union girls basketball program got tired of hearing fathers in the stands hollering at their daughters. They decided to let the men get some action and put them on the court with their daughters in their first Basketball Jamboree last weekend at the Green Road Community Center.The tournament attracted 28 teams of girls and their fathers or mentors.Arianna Earle and her father, Carlos, enjoy playing together and they make a good team -- they won in the 13- and 14-year-old age group."We have good chemistry," Arianna said. "My dad knows my strengths and weaknesses."Melissa Cochran's father was out of town on business so she invited her basketball coach, Carl Shabazz. They finished second.The Lady Jaguars were formed in June because there was no AAU girls league in Raleigh."We wanted to create an opportunity for girls in Raleigh to play basketball," said Pierre Bushel, Jaguar Athletic Group president.Arianna appreciates it."Playing sports helps girls' self-esteem and helps us stay in shape," she said.
Columnist Teri Saylor can be reached at terisaylor@hotmail.com.
