Photo submitted to Times Observer R.J. Frederick of Eisenhower takes a shot over Dane Richards of Warren during recent play in the Warren County YMCA School Basketball League.

It’s about camaraderie, school spirit and competition.

The Warren County YMCA School Basketball League brings together teams from several schools — some from outside of Warren County.

The program is in its third year and has grown each year. There are now 16 teams and a total of about 160 players. That is up from about 10 teams in the first year and 13 last year.

It was something that was missing from the community, according to Jamie Frederick, the program’s coordinator.

“Basketball has always been my favorite sport,” Frederick said.

He said there were elementary teams at all the schools when he was growing up.

“Allegheny Valley would play at St. Joe’s, at Lander, at Sugar Grove,” he said. “They don’t have those programs anymore.”

In fact, most of the schools he named no longer have students in them.

Frederick has coached soccer and baseball, but he wanted to get back to basketball.

During the coronavirus pandemic, youth were allowed to play soccer because it was an outdoor sport, but schools were not permitted to hold indoor sports.

Frederick brought the idea to Thad Turner, the YMCA’s executive director. “He said, ‘This sounds like a good program. We’ll make it happen.'”

There is a rec league at the Y for youth in the same age category that starts in February.

“This league is a little more competitive,” Frederick said. “It’s officiated more strictly.”

There are two divisions of play — third and fourth grades, and fifth and sixth grades.

The program is about as big as it can get under current circumstances.

Forming school teams builds toward the future.

“It’s helping to build that grass-roots program,” he said. “They get to do this with their classmates.”

There are two teams from Randolph, New York, and even teams without affiliated high schools are included.

“St. Joe’s hadn’t had sports in 30 years,” Frederick said.

He said there were travel teams that grew out of the league.

As the program grows, it changes.

“Because of our growth, we’ve created a board, with representatives from each school,” Frederick said.

With so many teams, continued growth is limited under the current circumstances.

“We’ve maxed out the available gym space at the Y,” Frederick said. “There is a chance next year this program will continue through the Y or with games at schools.”

There is a fee to enter the league.

“In prior years, we charged $100 per team,” he said. “This year, it was $200.”

But, the players didn’t have to pony up more money.

“We had two donors graciously step up and write a $3,200 check,” he said.

Juliet Hornburg made an initial donation and Whirley Drinkworks covered the rest.

“There are two or three other donors who have committed to paying for the entire league next year,” he said.

Generally, the league runs an eight-week schedule with a season ending tournament. This year, due to holidays falling on Sundays — games are played on Saturdays — and competition for the gym, there won’t be as many.

That hasn’t dampened spirits.

“The biggest complaint I’ve had was not enough parents knew about it,” Frederick said.

The organizers invite players from the county’s varsity basketball programs to referee the games. The schools can run concessions and make some money for their booster programs. Frederick said he is working with law enforcement to bring officers in as referees.