The Jamestown Area YMCA hosted a round-robin basketball tournament at its downtown location for area teens last month. Teams representing various youth agencies from around the area took center court at the YMCA as they sought the championship.

The Jamestown Teen Center had varsity and varsity teams along with the Jamestown Boys and Girls Club, and Bethel Baptist Christian Academy. Additionally, the Dunkirk Salvation Army fielded a varsity team.

The Teen Center’s junior varsity team, coached by Brad Johnson, was declared the junior varsity tournament champs. The Boys and Girls Club, coached by Alex Woleen, and BBCA, coached by Scott Lynn, were second and third respectively.

The Boys and Girls Club varsity team, coached by Jordan Thomas, was the varsity tournament champs. The Dunkirk Salvation Army, coached by Danny Alvarado, and Teen Center, coached by Brad Johnson placed second and third.

Teams use the sport of basketball as a platform to develop character and promote academic progress in participating teens. Approximately 65 area teens participated in the tournament. In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s work, players who displayed the “content of character” were honored for the way they displayed respect, kindness, integrity, and grit/determination. Character champions for the tournament were: Eddie Pillot, Teen Center varsity; Malahki Schroder, Teen Center junior; Nevan Kearney, Boys and Girls Club varsity; Shane Ferringer, Boys and Girls Club junior varsity; Zach Rohlin, Bethel varsity; Brady Smart, Bethel junior varsity; and Jay Orsini, Dunkirk Salvation Army.