LAHAINA – The West Maui Youth Basketball League All-Star Game and Awards Day, an event that has filled the hearts of West Side families with joy since 1983, was in jeopardy of being cancelled until Maui County Department of Parks and Recreation officials worked out a scheduling conflict to allow the celebration to continue.

Annually held during the first half of March, the WMYBL All-Star Game and Awards Day honors the 400-plus keiki ages 4-14 with a showcase extravaganza that recognizes ALL of the players, their coaches and the program officials involved in running this model youth sports organization.

Supporters of the league were thus aghast when word got out that the event was being cancelled.

But county Parks and Recreation staff worked out the scheduling conflict, and the games will go on.

According to West Maui officials, the event will now take place on Saturday, March 28, beginning at 8 a.m. with opening ceremonies, followed by the all-star games. Tiny Mites in grades K-2 tip-off at 8:30 a.m., Peewees (grades 3-5) at 10:30 a.m. and Midgets (grades 6-8) at 1:30 p.m.

Skills contests, recognition of coaches and award presentations that include sportsmanship honors in each division will be held.

The top 30 players in each division will make up the rosters of the East and West squads that will square off in the three showcase contests.

At halftime of each game, the coaches of all the teams, and the sportsmanship and coach of the year honorees, will be recognized.

The newly added Skills Challenge that includes an obstacle course, dribbling, passing and shooting drills will spice up the always exciting day.

The event is open to the public, and there is no charge for admission.

All are invited to join in the celebration that has nurtured the hoops dreams of thousands of West Side kids since 1983, and led to the unprecedented success of both the Lahainaluna High School girls and boys basketball programs.