A last-second shot soars through the air. The ball rattles against the rim, breaths are held throughout the gym. A swoosh, and cheers erupt from both the court and the sidelines. Another basketball game, but not under bright lights or in a packed high school gym. At the Boys & Girls Club, City League basketball offers a different environment for aspiring athletes.
City League basketball is offered through the Boys & Girls Club. It allows for a flexible and relaxed schedule for athletes who want something to do in their spare time. Sophomore Jackson Babcock joined in 2025, after looking for something extra to pick up over the summer.
“My friends and I had nothing to do in the summer,” Babcock said. “My friend played city league for a few years, and said we should make a team.”
For Babcock, City League was about trying something new. He had never previously played basketball, but used it as another way to stay active. “I think I’m a good athlete, and I think I could excel in that sport,” he said. “I just need more practice.”
Unlike typical high school basketball, City League allows players to create their own rosters and join a team without worrying about trying out or being cut.
Junior Braylon Heyer joined after not making the high school team his freshman year.
“I tried out for the [high school] team freshman year, and I didn’t make it,” Heyer said. “But the coach told me about City League, and it sounded interesting. I got some friends together, and I’ve been doing it ever since.”
Heyer finds that the biggest difference between the two programs is the structure. In high school basketball, players attend frequent practices, follow stricter rules, and try out for different teams. In City League, you form your own roster, pick your own coach, and don’t even have to do practices.
“They’re relatively similar, [to play on] the high school team, you have to go to practices,” Heyer said. “But you don’t have to do that with City League. You just show up and have fun.”
Just because City League is the more relaxed option, it doesn’t mean it lacks competition either. One of Heyer’s favorite moments while playing City League was his team’s first win of the season.
“We were down by one against one of the best teams in the league,” Heyer said, “Our record was 0-5, we didn’t have any wins.” A friend passed the ball to him, and he then passed it to someone else on the corner. “They hit the three, and we won the game.”
For players like Heyer, City League provides the basketball experience without the same intensity that comes with high school basketball, while also keeping people involved who might not have been able to continue the sport otherwise.
Junior Nick Lundgren joined City League for similar reasons.
“I started my sophomore year because my friend Braylon [Heyer] needed an extra person for his team,” Lundgren said. “It seemed fun, and I wasn’t doing any sports at the time. I’m doing it this year too.”
His experience reflects one of the best parts about City League: accessibility. Students who have spare time, or not enough time for the stricter high school sport schedule can easily join a team without significant pressure.
While both programs play very important roles in the basketball experience, City League basketball provides a relaxed space, meant for both beginners and casual players, to have fun with friends.
