Over fifty elementary, middle and high school kids came to Greater Fall River ReCreation for two days of a basketball clinic during the winter school vacation on February 17and 18, 2015. Students had the chance to learn new skills and to sharpen their game through both instruction and free play. The event was scheduled during a period of many days of school closings due to record amounts of snow and provided lots of much-needed physical activity for the boys and girls who participated. The free event was the brain child of Jeremy Lavoie, a 2009 graduate of B.M.C. Durfee High School who is currently enrolled in Manhattan College, and Fall River School Physical Education Teacher Jason Springer. Volunteer Kyle Whalen assisted with much of the coaching. Mr. Lavoie used basketball to help him stay focused in graduate high school and further his education in college, and he wanted to pay that forward. Click here for a two-minute video of the event. Click here for photos of a basketball tournament that Lavoie and Springer sponsored last summer. To learn more about the project, contact event coordinator Jeremy Lavoie at toprecruitjl@gmail.com.

(Top row, center and right) Volunteer Kyle Whalen and Physical Education Teacher Jason Springer work with the younger students on learning the rules of the game. (Row two) The older students enjoy a game on the other end of the court. (Row three) Mr. Whalen goes over some pointers on strategy with the younger players. (Row four, right) Mr. Springer points out a penalty for one of the moves. (Bottom row, center) The group assembles for a group photo following the game.