Following a 128-107 triumph over the South Shore Monarchs last weekend, the Jamestown Jackals find themselves toward the top of the East Division of The Basketball League standings with an overall record of 10-3.

However, a closer look into what the organization as a collective whole has gone through shows that this season has been anything but easy and the impressive win-loss record is a true testament to how well the team has handled all the adversity thrown its way.

To start, the Jackals have not had a true home court all season.

The Jackals’ former home, the Physical Education Complex at Jamestown Community College, was not available for public use prior to the start of the season due to COVID-19, causing the team to adjust on the fly.

As a result, Jamestown has split its home games between multiple locations in Pennsylvania, including the Warren County YMCA, the Boys and Girls Club of Erie and the Hagerty Family Events Center in Erie.

The constant shuffling between venues has presented obvious challenges that the team has had to face head on.

“It has been extremely difficult,” Kayla Crosby, the team market owner and current general manager of the Jackals, stressed. “…It seems like each weekend is opening weekend because we are starting from scratch with the set-up most times. …We have got a great group of volunteers who have helped us over the years, but it has been difficult for them to commit to driving to Pennsylvania for two games (almost) every weekend. Just our volunteers who love the guys and love the game are (sometimes) unable to fully commit to things whereas when we were in Jamestown, I had the same staff every game.”

Jamestown, coached by Brandon Lesovsky, has thrived on the court despite those challenges and uncertainty.

According to the team’s official website, the Jackals have seven players averaging more than 10 points per game: Christian Nobles (24.5), Bernard Edwards (19.4), Four McGlynn (18.7), Jon Lee (17.2), Dane Miller (14.3), Eric Mack (12.1), and Raheem Singleton (10.6).

The gaudy scoring statistics show that the Jackals are extremely versatile on the offensive end of the court and can hurt opposing teams in a variety of different ways.

“We have a group of professionals,” Crosby said. “Just their IQ and their talent (has been impressive). We have been very blessed. We worked hard with recruiting and it has been pretty cool just to see them perform. It is fun when they are working together. They throw that extra pass for the wide open three, or (connect) on an alley-oop and different stuff like that. …I really believe we have a championship team coming together.”

Along with their stellar performance on the hardwood, the Jackals continue to have a presence in and around the local community.

With some restrictions due the pandemic still in place, a couple of organizations the Jackals usually work with have not been able to have outside visitors.

But they have still found a way to help.

“Thankfully, things have opened up a little bit more,” Crosby said. “Recently, we were able to go to Healing Word Ministries and work with the Jamestown Police Department to hand out boxes of food to community members. That was really awesome. I think it was about 400 boxes that the guys unloaded from the truck. …We have also been going out to Erie. The Erie schools have been more open to letting us come in. We went to Mother Teresa Academy… and then the Boys and Girls Club of Erie which has been our other host gym. It has been neat to expand and to see different environments, but we definitely miss being able to go out (and help) different places in Jamestown. If there are any schools or organizations that are able to have guests, I would love for people to reach out to me.”

Maybe everything has not been simple and straightforward for Crosby and her team in 2021. But she is certainly thankful for the way everyone in the organization has made things work.

“These players deserve an opportunity,” Crosby said. “And the community deserves to be a part of things again. It has been a lot, it has not been easy, but I want to commend the guys, too. Switching venues, driving all the way to Erie, and different practice facilities. They have not complained. They figure out what the schedule is, and they show up. They have been wonderful with everything.”

NOTES: More information on the team including the full roster, contact information, and ticket information can be found at www.jamestownjackals.com. The team also has an official Facebook page.