CROWN POINT — Jackie Webster’s intent was to showcase Northwest Indiana girls basketball with her Web site, the Region Roundball Review, but it has grown into so much more than that in only four years.

It has become the best source for region girls basketball, and also features information on all of Indiana’s high school and college teams.

Everyone from coaches and players to fans and the media utilize the site.

“It’s an awesome Web site and she does an unbelievable service for the area,” Portage Coach Renee Turpa said.

“I think it is so well done and she’s done it through her own drive and determination. It has grown so quickly because there is so much valuable information.”

Players like Andrean’s Jamie Gutowski use it to find out the latest news and scores. College and AAU information is also available to players.

“When I played AAU over the summer, all the girls who were on my team knew about it,” Gutowski said. “It is a really good way to find out what is going on down south because I always look at the scores and recaps and message board.

“Last year, Stephanie Govert and I used to go on it twice a week during our study hall and now, I go on it at least twice a week myself.”

Webster started the site when her daughter, Alex, who’s verbally committed to Southern Mississippi, was a freshman. It started as a Web site for Alex’s AAU basketball team and expanded.

“No one else was doing it and I feel like the Web site provides a service for all the people who care about this sport,” Webster said. “Girls basketball has come a long way in the last 10 years and I just want to do as much as I can to continue that growth.”

To say Webster is dedicated is an understatement: She spends 90 minutes every morning updating it and even writes game recaps nightly.

Her husband, Cory, does the top 12 poll every Sunday and posts the key upcoming games for the week.

“We have links to about 60 on-line newspapers and I scour all of them to compile news,” Webster said. “I usually don’t get to write the recaps until around midnight after going to games and dinner, but I feel like this is something I have to do. Others are doing their part to promote the sport and I have to also.”

The Web site’s message board is the most frequently used, but some other nice features on it are the links to the high school and college team Web sites and the quotes of the week compiled from newspapers.

“We tell everyone we want to promote, not tear down the kids so we won’t tolerate anyone putting negative things on it,” Webster said of the message board. “I think I enjoy collecting the coaches’ quotes the most.”

There are features specifically catering to coaches under the coaches’ corner. The coaches’ clipboard requires a password, which allows the coaches to talk freely among themselves and discuss issues.

“We’ve gotten a lot of compliments from coaches because it helps them keep in touch better and they don’t have to look over their shoulder all the time when they speak freely about things,” Webster said.

Most college coaches in this state know about and use it, but Webster hopes more outside the state discover it. Talented players from each class are highlighted and all-area teams are specifically selected by classes.

“We’re pretty good at tracking kids and we try to promote the state’s top-notch players so colleges notice them,” Webster said. “The college coaches really like the Indiana guards and I hope those out of state coaches use it more as a recruiting tool.”

Bob Strempka, whose daughter Jennifer is on Crown Point’s junior varsity team, takes and scans in all the photos featured on the Web site.

“He gives us beautiful photos and it has been a nice addition to our Web site,” Webster said.

Despite the Websters looking to attend many of Alex’s college games next year, they will continue operating the Web site.

“People have offered to buy it from us, but we’re not ready to give it up yet,” Webster said. “I am hoping we can recruit help and keep it going strong.”

To check out the Web site, the address is www.smallwebsolutions.com/roundball/

Reporter Annette VanDeCar can be reached at 648-3141 or by e-mail at avandecar@post-trib.com.