Mason Civic League Wins Summer Youth Basketball Finals

Written by Lauren Zisa

The Hoboken Housing Authority celebrated the culmination of another fine season of its Summer Youth Basketball League with championship finals and all-star games played under the lights at Church Square Park on Thursday, Sept. 5. This sixth annual tournament was co-sponsored by the Hoboken PAL.

Several games were played throughout the evening by boys aged 13 to 18. The opening game was an all-star affair for 13- to 15-year-olds and saw the East rout the West, 83-63. In the league finals for the oldest division, Mason Civic League scored a last second basket to edge Room 84 by a score of 58-56. Mason Civic League was led by J.R Lynch, who scored 31 points to top all players. Lynch was also named the MVP of the finals for his stellar performance. 

Luis Acevedo, maintenance manager for the housing authority, and Executive Director Carmelo Garcia formed the league some years ago. 

“We started this league to take the kids off the street and give them something to do in the summertime,” Acevedo said. 

The regular season runs from the first week of July to the end of August and involves more than 100 basketball players 

“We have a competitive regular season with a lot of players and this tournament is the highlight of our league,” Acevedo said.

Following the Finals, players from both sides met at center court to offer handshakes before the closing ceremony. It was there that Acevedo and Garcia presented trophies to the winning team and the MVP trophy to Lynch.

“The summer basketball league keeps our kids exercising all summer while having a great time,” Garcia said. “Maybe we will see them in the NBA.”