Submitted Photos Chautauqua Hurricanes players have been leading Saturday basketball clinics at Northern Chautauqua Catholic School since October.

Basketball: it was one of the first professional sports impacted by COVID-19.

Now, it’s the first athletic offering at Northern Chautauqua Catholic School for the 2020-21 school year. For the past two months, the Chautauqua Hurricane basketball team has been leading Saturday basketball clinics at NCCS, and it’s proven to be just as much fun for the students as it is for the players, whose regular season was cut short in March.

Head coach and owner Sixto Rosario explained, “We went 11 and three and were on our way to the elite championship before our season was cut short by COVID-19.”

The semi-professional team consists of players from Chautauqua County, as well as players who live out of state. In the past, Rosario has been part of NCCS’ annual Peg Smith Tournament, but this is the first year that he and his team have hosted clinics at the school.

“With COVID-19 impacting our season this year, we wanted to reach out to the local schools and offer basketball clinics,” he explained. “NCCS was open to the idea, and we’ve been at the school just about every Saturday.”

Basketball clinics are open to students in grades two through eight at no charge. Different age groups for boys and girls are staggered throughout the morning. Per COVID-19 health precautions, masks are required upon entry into the gymnasium, temperatures are taken, and hand-washing/disinfecting protocols are in place. The clinics were scheduled for Saturdays in October, but due to the enthusiastic response and steady attendance, the Saturday clinics are running until Christmas break.

Hurricane players Alex Crossan, Marcus Feagin, Kofi Mills and Larry Rivers have been coaching the clinics, and according to Rosario, “The guys have loved it. They have a great time, going in there and seeing the kids smiling. One of the kids had a birthday, and we gave him one of our team masks, which haven’t been released yet. It’s been a blast.”

Kevin and Megan Congdon of Silver Creek, whose sons Jake and Henry participate in the clinics, said, “It’s the highlight of our weekend. We haven’t missed a single one.”

Importantly, the clinics are more than just a fun morning in the gym. “My kids just went into this knowing they like to dribble a ball and run around,” Megan noted. “The players are professionals, yet fun with the kids. They’ve worked on building skills through a variety of drills with a focus on good sportsmanship. They really stress that. I can’t say enough about the guys. They work on developing the entire player.”

NCCS parent Danielle Whitfield agrees, as her son, Greyson, has thoroughly enjoyed every clinic. “The coaches have been patient with the children and have used other games besides basketball for team building and fun,” she said. “There has been an opportunity for one-on-one time with coaches helping to further teach the sport. The clinics have been a positive experience for children to be active and socialize in a safe manner, despite a global pandemic.”

When the Hurricanes are able to return to a regular playing schedule, Rosario is planning to involve NCCS students to the greatest extent possible. “Eventually, if we’re able to play a game in the city of Dunkirk, Brocton, or wherever, we’d want the kids to be a part of that as ball boys or girls, water boys or girls, or however they want to help out. We plan to just keep the kids involved in what we’re doing. The kids are major, the most important piece to everything.”

Megan Congdon noted that the basketball clinics are the first, and perhaps only opportunity for her sons to participate in organized sports this year. “I would like to thank Mr. Ludwig and the Hurricanes for providing my kids with this opportunity,” she said. “I give them such credit for stepping up because a lot of people aren’t willing to do this kind of work right now.”

Rosario is grateful for the support of the NCCS families who have entrusted his team with their students this fall. “The school and the parents have made all of this possible,” he said. “With everything to lament this year, this is an exciting thing.”

NCCS Principal Andy Ludwig echoed Rosario’s enthusiasm. “We are so grateful to the Chautauqua Hurricanes for providing this safe athletic opportunity for our NCCS students during this pandemic,” he said. “We look forward to continuing this very positive and mutually beneficial relationship with Coach Rosario and the Hurricanes for many years to come. After all, what sport is more Catholic than basketball?”