Youth basketball league upgrades LHS scoreboards

LACONIA — A pair of donated scoreboards — valued at around $10,000 — have been installed in the Laconia High School gymnasium, and have already been used this fall for volleyball matches, and will be ready for both high school and youth basketball games this winter.

The scoreboards were donated by the Lou Athanas Youth Basketball League. The larger shows game time, and fouls, and the other, smaller board displays scores for each team. Principal Lisa Hinds said this is mutually beneficial for both the league and the school, and she expressed her thanks.

“This is just a testament to the legacy that Sachem Nation holds in the community,” Hinds said. “Our connection to the youth groups and support, the reciprocal support both ways, and this is just evidence of that. It was a great surprise, and we’re just thrilled by the donation.”

Hinds said the scoreboards were installed just before the opening of school. Board member Rod Roy said after the big basketball tournament the league hosts every February, the board decided at the annual meeting to make the donation.

The league provides competitive basketball opportunities for Laconia students from pre-K through ninth grade. The league has local teams, as well as travel teams, where players compete in tournaments across New Hampshire.

Roy said the old scoreboards were aging, which they noticed in using the gymnasium for their games. He said the league tries to make a donation at the end of each year, and this year, they had about enough money in the bank to cover the scoreboards.

“We saw what we had in the treasury and said, 'We’ve got enough to make a pretty sizable donation.' So, I knew the high school was looking for new scoreboards,” Roy said. “I reached out to Coach [Craig] Kozens and he said, ‘That would be great.’”

Fundraising comes through tournament registration fees, as well as entry fees and money made from concessions. Funds are also raised through duck tosses, free throw contests and three-point contests, Roy said.

The league uses gyms throughout the school district, including at Woodland Heights Elementary and Laconia Middle schools. Previous donations have been to re-tint the windows at LMS, as well as ball racks and a chair caddy. The league has also donated basketballs over the years.

Hinds said the feedback from the school community has been great, and she was glad they were installed in time for volleyball season.

“Right from the school board on down, the feedback’s been nothing but positive,” Hinds said. “The board was very proud to accept the donation. I was here the other day for the volleyball game, and it was great to see that. The kids are really excited about it. It just shows that Sachem pride that the community has, and we really value that.”

Roy said the school and league have always had a collaborative effort to provide student-athletes a positive experience.

“They allow us to use the court,” Roy said. “For one of the all-star teams, we host our games here on Sunday afternoons. And for the tournament, our big fundraiser, they give us the court for the weekend, which is a huge help to us. It’s a reciprocal thing. They’re great with us whenever they need something.”

Roy said the varsity basketball team gets directly involved with the youth program, with players refereeing the third and fourth grade division.

“Every weekend, they come over and help, so that’s a huge help to us, and they get something out of it,” Roy said. “They get to learn the other side of the game, from the referee’s standpoint.”

Roy was at the high school Sunday night, for a board meeting. Several players were playing a little shoot-around beforehand. The board was discussing the date to open the registration for the upcoming youth season, with the first games coming in the first week of December. The season extends through mid-February, and tournaments run into March.

President Heather McIntire was there, and gave plenty of credit to Roy for his work over the years.

“Rod has worked with all of the schools for many years, so he knows what people need when they need it,” McIntire said. “Having him as one of our board members — lifetime board member and tournament director — he’s able to give the insight that we might not know, because we’re not as fully involved with the schools. But, we’re hoping that gets a little bit better.”

This is McIntire’s first year as president, and her fourth year on the league board. She has two sons in the program. Easton McIntire is in fourth grade, and Connor Kitchen is in sixth grade. Kitchen is coached by Roy.

Vice President Natalie Kitching-Rajak has been involved with the organization for about 15 years. Her son Kody Kitching, who has autism, played in the league. Since then, she's had two other children in the league, her son Koleton and daughter Khloe. McIntire asked her to be a part of the board this year, and she said it is great to be a part of an organization with such a direct connection to her family.

“It’s amazing,” she said. “Heather asked me to be on the board. And I just thought, why not give back to the community? My daughter played last year, and my son did, too. It’s kind of neat to just see the progression of the children through the season, and all kinds of abilities and ages. It’s really neat.”

McIntire stressed the need for more board members for the volunteer-run organization. Board members meet once a month and are required to volunteer at the annual tournament.

The league needs to fill the positions of kindergarten/first grade director; fifth/sixth grade boys division director; seventh through ninth grade boys division director; a web administrator; tournament director; and referee coordinator. Those interested can email Heather61516@gmail.com.

For more information about the league, visit laybl.org.