The challenge has been made and the season is ready to begin.

The Claude C. Brown branch of the Selma YMCA is ready to begin its Men’s Commercial and Independent Basketball Leagues in February.

Teams from Dallas County and surrounding areas will vie for their respective championships in two different leagues.

The leagues will open Feb. 5 with a Tipp-Off Tournament at the Brown YMCA.

From there, the 8-team Men’s Commercial League and 6-team Men’s Independent League will begin play one week later. Games will be scheduled on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, with the two leagues alternating weeks, according to Brown YCMA Director John Solomon.

Solomon added that each team will play 10 games over a 14-week period.

Solomon also challenged any team to repeat the feat of last year’s Selma Times-Journal squad that won the Men’s Commercial League title its first year in the league.

“We never had a team to accomplish that before last season,” Solomon said. “I’d like to see another team come in here and see if they can do that.”

Teams from Dallas, Perry, Autauga Lowndes counties are eligible to join either league. Team members must be at least 18 years old and not a member of any local junior college or 4-year college basketball team.

Solomon added that there is a fee of $300 per team for the leagues.

Some of the teams expected to compete in the Commercial League include the Selma Times-Journal, Budweiser, Honda Lock America, Global Security, the Selma Fire Department, American Apparel and Elwood Baptist Church.

Teams in the Independent League include Small Street Inn, East Side Ballers, Gunners, Turner’s Burners, Maplesville Red Doggs and Teamwork.

Solomon challenged The Young Guns to regroup and join the league this year. He said the team last played in the league two seasons ago.

Solomon also announced that a children’s league also is forming. The league will be open to boys and girls ages 5-18.

The league will have games every weekday except Wednesday and Friday.

Solomon added that youngsters must complete their homework before going to practice or playing in a league game.

Cost of the league is $20 for YMCA members and $35 for non-members. However, Solomon said he would likely overlook the cost if a child is serious about learning the game of basketball.

“We don’t get bent out of shape if we don’t get the money,” he said. “We want this to be fun. We want it to be safe and we want the parents to come in and support the kids.”

Solomon added that he is seeking volunteer coaches and referees to help teach kids the game

of basketball. Anyone interested can call Solomon at the YMCA at 872-1496.