It's been no secret over the years about my love - or lack of it - for elementary basketball. While I've done my best to be dedicated to the coverage of the local county leagues, I've often been more critical of the rules or competition than celebrate what makes its special.

Let's be honest: Any sporting event, no matter what level, is usually incredibly entertaining when you have skin in the game. When it's your family out on the court, it feels like the NBA finals when Dibrell and Eastside go to battle. And for bystanders - like myself - it's just another Tuesday.

I tried to get away from that line of thinking in the last couple years since returning to the paper. Instead, I've wanted to embrace the rivalries, enjoy kids taking the leap in skill level over years of hard work and just see the game like most of the children do.

And, unlike parents, coaches and media who watch the scoreboard as much as the action, kids just seem to be out there to have a ton of fun. Take last week for example.

I got to be in the gym when Kerrigan Johnson - a young player on the Boyd Lady Broncos - scored her first career points. Running back down the court, she almost looked in disbelief. Fans were going crazy and I'm sure her mom Dara, who was coaching, probably was fighting back tears in the moment.

I'm sure that moment was recreated several times for kids and their parents over the last two months. In fact, I know it has happened for many kids because it's unmistakable when a player puts in their first points. Fans absolutely erupt in ovation - which can leave the sports guy who may have just arrived from another game wondering why people are going berserk about two points in a blowout in the fourth quarter.

To borrow the SEC slogan: elementary basketball just means more to the kids, coaches and parents involved.

There's been plenty of other examples too. I was in the gym for the D1 vs. D2 boys matchup of Boyd and Centertown and watched as the Warriors made a huge statement about who was going to run county basketball this winter. The gym was electric; Fans were going nuts on both sides for every basket.

The same energy was evident when Centertown and Hickory Creek met up in girls action a week later and it was the same edge-of-your-seat action when Eastside and Dibrell - maybe one of the longest running rivalries locally - had an OT game between their boys team earlier this month.

One great thing about elementary basketball - especially for me - is there is always a local team winning every night. This year, it's been eight different teams getting victories twice a week. It's overwhelming sometimes, but in the best way.

Thankfully, and with help of some great sponsors, we've been able to highlight more elementary players than ever before this season.  It won't be long before we'll be honoring top teams too.

I'm looking forward to getting back to the gyms for championship games after Thanksgiving, when the ultimate county bragging rights will be decided in postseason tournaments.  And don't worry, the Player of the Week honors will extend to the 7-8 grade league starting in December.

I guess you can say I've finally been won over by the elementary basketball crowd. Or maybe I just opened my eyes to something that was pretty good all this time.

Editor's Note: Due to space issues, coverage of the postseason tournaments - including publishing brackets - had to be pushed. Look for more elementary coverage in Wednesday's edition.