Jamestown Jackals’ team members pose with the basketball program participants at the end of Saturday’s clinic hosted by the Jackals at the Busti Church of God. P-J Photo by Christopher Blakeslee

BUSTI — More than 40 area youth were treated to a no-cost, high-energy basketball clinic, hosted by the Jamestown Jackals.

Integrity First, a local nonprofit organization, and umbrella corporation, that owns The Basketball League (TBL) franchise team hosted the clinic in the Busti Church of God’s gymnasium recently.

“You’re going to get out of this what you put in,” said Ronald “Radio” Singleton, the Jackals head coach. “You put in the hard work, and you’ll only get better.”

At the end of the clinic, Singleton then assembled the entire group of program participants and stressed the importance of staying in school; staying out of trouble; getting good grades; listening to one’s parents; doing chores and practicing basketball skills every day.

Basketball stations were set up in a round-robin style pattern, where each child was integrated into an age appropriate skill group and was given a group color matching T-shirt to help keep the clinic organized and flowing. Each station focused on a specific basketball essential skill set designed to make the participants better basketball players.

“Each station will focus on one of the many skills it takes to become a good and competitive basketball player,” said Singleton. “Focus, try hard and have fun.”

While the event participants were having fun, it was some of the parents who were equally ecstatic as their young basketball players.

“I love this,” said Stephanie Monn, a resident of Jamestown and mother of Jamestown Public School System’s eight year old student, Remy Monn. “I’d rather we as a community invest in more of these (clinics) than invest millions of dollars into community skate parks and splash pads which will end up full of graffiti and destroyed in less than 24 hours of it being opened.”

When asked about the Jamestown Jackals and this program, Remy stated. “I love the Jackals. They are super-fun, they know the game and I want to be as good of a player when I get older,” she said.

Remy, who also plays basketball, aspires to play for Jamestown High School.

“I want to make the varsity team when I go to high school,” said the elementary school student. “So, I am putting in the ‘work’ now.”