Lost Battalion Hall Recreation Center

The Daily Plant : Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Playing Some B-Ball At The Lost Battalion Hall

Photo by Lynn Delossantos

More than 70 youths battled it out last month on the courts of Lost Battalion Hall in Rego Park, Queens during the first Martin Luther King Jr. Day Memorial Basketball Scrimmage. The event brought together young basketball players from Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan to test their skills. Participants from the basketball clinics at Lost Battalion Hall (LBH) in Queens, Hunts Point Recreation Center in the Bronx, as well as players from the Jefferson Park Boys Club in Manhattan, joined together for a fun-filled day of scrimmages.

The kids were excited to spend their day off from school at the center and to show off their skills. Rondal Howe, captain of the LBH team, kicked off the event by reciting a portion of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Then the scrimmaging began.

“I would be hanging out in the street doing nothing,” said Halasane Diane, a 13-year-old from nearby Lefrak City who participates in the LBH basketball teen program, about the opportunity to be part of the scrimmaging. “Same for me,” said two teens — one from the Boys and Girls Club and the other from Hunts Point.

With many of today’s youths eating more unhealthy than ever and struggling with their weight, basketball is a great way to help manage weight and reduce fat. Basketball helps maintain healthy bodies and gain strong muscles, not to mention the social and personal skills that are gained.

As do many of Parks’ Recreation Centers, Lost Battalion Hall and Hunts Point offer basketball clinics where youths can learn about the sport and participate in various drills. These drills test their mental, as well as physical capabilities. “The kids love the drills. They sweat and work hard but they can feel their own progression, which makes them want to work harder,” said Lynn Delossantos, Center Manager at Lost Battalion Hall. Participants gain self-confidence, better coordination and make new friends from different parts of the City. Good sportsmanship and character building is an essential component to the scrimmages.

After six games, the home team of Lost Battalion Hall won the days’ scrimmages. But more importantly, everyone developed camaraderie with players from other parts of the City and improved their skills. The players are all looking forward to next year’s event and are excited to meet new teams.

Lost Battalion Hall and Hunts Point host basketball clinics and teams for teens. The teams travel and compete in tournaments citywide. “It is really exciting when we travel and play against other teams,” said the team members of Jefferson Park Boys Club.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would be proud to see such a diverse group of youth engaging in constructive recreation together.

Written by Hiram Diaz

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

“Where is human nature so weak as in the bookstore?”

Henry Ward Beecher
(1813 – 1887)