High School Players Take The Lead
A new youth basketball league may have had unusual beginnings, but the results have reached heights never expected.
Not only is the LaSalle Baptist Basketball League helping to shape future basketball players in LaSalle Parish, but they are having immediate effects on current high school players that are paying huge dividends in their current season.
For many years, Upward Basketball was provided by Jena First Baptist Church to allow youth the opportunity to learn basic basketball skills in a Christ-centered program. With the departure of longtime Upward Director Monty Smith, the church was left without someone to run the program.
The church then approached Eastvue Baptist Church Pastor Dustin Robertson about organizing a league apart from Upward but with many of the same values and components.
Robertson, who also is an assistant coach with the Jena Lady Giants basketball team, immediately reached out to Head Coach Garrett Hoffpauir, who was excited about the possibilities.
The duo then organized an agreement with Eastvue, Temple Baptist Church and Jena First Baptist, to have the games played in their respective gyms. All of the younger children play at First Baptist each Saturday, because they have lower basketball goals.
The older teams alternate playing at Temple Baptist’s gym and Eastvue’s gym, so that one church doesn’t have to be open each week.
Hoffpauir then presented the program to his basketball players, who jumped at the idea of helping run the new league.
“I just thought this would be an excellent opportunity to allow our girls to invest in our community, get some real experience in working with younger players and perhaps they would learn some lessons along the way,” Hoffpauir said. “But man, I never dreamed it would have the impact it has had on our basketball team.”
The Jena Lady Giants, who were in the middle of a grueling season, led the way in organizing evaluations and dividing up the players into teams based on skill levels, to keep it fair.
Then they volunteered to coach teams, lead practices, referee games, run the clocks, really everything but work the concession stands, which is left to the host churches who use the proceeds for various mission endeavors.
The result was that 150 children, from Kindergarten to 8th grade, are playing each Saturday, led by the Jena Lady Giants and others.
“Because it was presented to us kind of late, we only had a five week season this year,” Hoffpauir said. “Our last games will be on February 28, but next year, we hope to start in early January. We want to make sure we’re done before Dixie ball starts, because so many play baseball and softball.”
As with Upward, the league has devotions during halftime of games and prayer is a crucial part of every practice and game. While the Christ-centeredness of the league is what many parents want for their youth, the difference the program has made on Hoffpauir’s team is something that went far beyond his expectations.
“We (coaches) can see the impact it’s had on our players,” he said. “Everything, from communication skills to listening to their coaches is different. Because they are coaching their youth teams and see the importance of their players listening to them, it allows them to be better players in listening to us.”
Perhaps the greatest impact of being a part of the LaSalle Baptist Basketball League though, has been the attitude and conduct of his team, the coach noted.
“It really has helped them to live better lives,” Hoffpauir said. “Those kids look up to them, and the girls realize they are now role models, so it just makes them want to live better because they know so many are watching them. They just carry themselves differently now – more confidence and realizing what an impact they have on those younger kids.”
The leagues motto, “Developing Players – Growing Disciples,” was intended for the youth participants but Hoffpauir notes it has transformed to include everyone associated with the program.
“It’s just amazing to see,” he said. “It’s not only making a difference in those kids’ lives, but in the Lady Giants and everyone else that has a part in making this league a success.”
He also thanked all of the churches and volunteers that work very hard each week to allow the program to exist.
“This type of program takes a lot of people to be successful,” he said. “I’m thankful that this area is filled with people who are ready to jump in and make a difference in other lives.”
The LaSalle Baptist Basketball League has two more Saturday’s worth of games before the season ends, February 21 and 28. While the little children will be playing at First Baptist both dates, the older youth will be playing at Eastvue Feb. 21 and Temple Feb. 28. Each Saturday games begin at 9 a.m. and end around 1:30 or 2 p.m.
