Ali Anderson and her Final Four shirt

Ball kids are treated special
at basketball games

Last spring, Ali Anderson got special treatment at the 2001 NCAA Women's Final Four basketball tournament. She not only got in free but also saw the action right down on the floor.

This March, she and brothers Riley and Keegan O'Neill will get the same sort of VIP treatment at the 2002 Missouri Valley Conference's men's basketball tourney. They'll be among the ball kids who keep the floor clear so players don't slip and fall.

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Thirteen-year-old Ali is now an eighth grader at Oakville Middle School. She's been a ball kid for the MVC tournament for four or five years. The Women's Final Four was a bonus for her as St. Louis hosted the national tournament.

She said, "I want to play basketball in high school and college. I like to watch the games up close so I can see how they play in college."

Ali plays guard or forward on two youth basketball teams. One is at the local Y and another is a select team involving kids from various schools.

She said she also had been taking dancing lessons. But, she said, "I dropped dance. My mother said, 'With the select team playing in tournaments and out of town, that was too much.'"

Riley O'Neill in his MVC shirt

Twelve-year-old Riley O'Neill is a sixth grader at Blades Elementary School in south St. Louis County. He and his brother worked the MVC men's tournament two years ago.

He said there are at least four ball kids for each game. Two sit under the baskets on each end of the court. Then, others make sure referees get towels and refreshments. They also fill cups of water for players when teams don't bring their own water bottles.

When working under the basket, the ball kids get instructions from the referees. Riley said, "If a player falls, the referee will tell us to wipe up the sweat."

Also, the ball kids clean the floor during half-time.

Sometimes, when the action on the court is fast and furious, they have to be alert.

Keegan O'Neill

Eleven-year-old Keegan O'Neill is a fifth grader at Blades Elementary. He said he's been hit by a player once. "He was going for a lay-up and was fouled and fell over on me," he said. But, he said neither he nor the player were hurt.

Riley said he's almost been hit by players or the ball. But, he was able to get behind the goal standard in time.

Ali said, "A ball has come at me but I was able to catch it and throw it back."

Unlike Ali, Riley isn't a basketball player. He plays baseball and soccer. He's now playing in an indoor soccer league at Waterloo, Ill. In early December, his team was 4-0.

But, in the MVC meet, he cheers for Southwest Missouri State from Springfield, Mo. "My friend's sister goes there," Riley said.

Keegan plays basketball along with roller hockey, soccer and baseball. As for being a sports fan, Keegan said, "I like hockey. I root for the (St. Louis) Blues."

Both the Women's Final Four and the MVC tournaments were at the Savvis Center. That's the home arena for the Blues. The hockey season is on when the basketball tournaments are played.

The basketball playing surface is placed right over the ice.

But, Riley and Keegan said they've never been cold at the basketball games.

Ali, Riley and Keegan said they like the "perks" the ball kids get at the games. In addition to free admission, they also get free snacks and soft drinks. Each of the kids gets to keep the tournament T-shirt that is their "uniform" at the games.

Ali said they also get to talk with the players and coaches at times. She said, "Also, I got to joke with the team mascots during half-time."

She said the ball kids get special training before the games so they'll know just what to do.

Ali said they have some towels to wipe the floor and then other towels for the referees. "You have to make sure we keep them separate. It wouldn't be good to mix the floor towels with the referee towels," she said.

The ball kids said all the players, coaches and referees treated them very well.