Veteran official Don Dozzi wins provincial honour for countless of whistle blowing on hardwood
By The Nelson Daily Sports
By Bruce Fuhr, The Nelson Daily
Don Dozzi can thank former School District No. 8 administrator Tomo Naka for getting him involved in basketball officiating back in the mid-60s.
Forty-six years later the retired Employment Canada worker was honoured as one of three winners of the Bob Hall Award of Merit as awarded by the B.C. Basketball Officials Association.
“I was quite surprised when (West Kootenay Basketball Officials President) Dave (Brewer) told me about the award,” Dozzi confessed, who admits to officiating grandchildren of players he officiated during his early years.
“I really wasn’t expecting it.”
Dozzi got his start wearing the stripes in 1966 on the urging of Naka.
Dozzi is a four-time provincial official, representing then WKBOA twice at AAA Girl’s tournament and once each at the Single-A Girls and Senior B Men’s Championships.
Hall was a longtime members of the BCBOA and Salmon Arm Basketball Officials Association.
The winner of the Hall award demonstrates professionalism, enthusiasm and a willingness to support and adapt to progressive change; offer dedication and support for the BCBOA and its policies and procedures; be well respected within the local basketball community and support basketball officiating both locally and regionally.
High School hoops concludes season with zone tournaments
It’s zone tournament time on the Kootenay High School Basketball scene with a handful of tournaments on the docket.
In Grand Forks, the L.V. Rogers Bombers will be looking to get back to the B.C. High School AA Boy’s Championships in Kamloops.
The top-seeded Bombers are the early favourite in the eight-team field.
Meanwhile, the LVR Bomber senior girls are in Creston Friday to play in the Kootenay High School AA Championships.
Unfortunately, the Bombers have decided to compete for the zone berth but will play in the tourney to complete the hoop season.
In Fernie, the Mount Sentinel Wildcats will be looking to knock off the favourite Falcons in the Kootenay High School A girl’s zone tournament.
The Mount Sentinel Wildcats boys are the other local team in action.
sports@thenelsondaily.com
