“I think it made me want to be better,” Williams said from the baseline, where, waiting for his next turn to play, he dribbled a ball and, when the action moved to the far side of the court, snuck back on to get in a shot or two.
Because the open gyms attract players from various high schools from across much of Fairfield County, there is sometimes competitive tension. Current and former rivals often face off in the sweaty gymnasium.
“Some people take certain games more personal than others,” said Gardener, who, with Kelley, was conserving energy for a Saturday tournament in Stamford and remained on the sideline for the duration of the run.
But, Gilmore is quick to point out that in nine years, the open gym has gone off without incident and the competition remains friendly. For many, such as Singleton-Bates, the open gyms are like a reunion, where she sees people with whom she grew up with and went to high school. For others, the Carver’s atmosphere has a healing effect.
“Some people see it as therapy,” said Gilmore, works as Caver’s teen center manager and a security guard at Norwalk High School.
Ocean Woods, 20, said he comes primarily for fun, but also to play against the city’s top players.
“This is the best competition in Norwalk,” said Woods, a former Norwalk High School basketball player. “Everybody knows that the ballers come to the Carver to ball.”
