With a network of volunteers including parents, high school students, and former players, the Wareham Junior Basketball Association (JBA) is thriving.

“Almost all the coaches have played in the league,” said JBA president Joel Watters. “It’s great when they come back.”

Watters says that volunteers are the driving force behind the league's success.

“Everyone does their part to keep the league running,” he noted.

The JBA held its championship tournament Saturday, Feb. 16, in front of a packed gym of enthusiastic fans.

“The referees I bring in, they’ve never seen anything like this," Watters  added. "Most of them are in awe of how many parents come out.”

Nine-year-old Joseph Pearle was excited that his team, the Runnin’ Rebels, were runners-up in their division at the tournament.

“It’s awesome," he said. "This is the first time I’ve gotten a trophy.”

His teammate, 8-year-old Patrick Spenrd, said a basketball playing cousin of his spurred him to sign up for JBA.

“My cousin’s been playing, and I wanted to play with him,” said Patrick. “This is my first year, and I did the best I can.”

In championship play, the Division 2 Lady Huskies defeated the Lady Blue Devils, 24-15; the Division 2 Bruins defeated the Rebels, 39-30. In Division 1 Girls, Sky defeated Lynx, 18-10, and in boys, Heat defeated Thunder, 52-36.

According to Watters, evidence of the league's success can be seen in the quality of the Wareham High School basketball programs.

Watters says that JBA is a “stepping stone” to high school basketball. Both the boys and the girls basketball teams put on clinics for JBA players over the winter. Watters credits coaches Dave and Kevin Brogioli with helping to get high school players involved with the league.

Watters is a former JBA player himself, and was coached by Kevin Brogioli as a Wareham High School student.

“Both Brogiolis have been role models in my life," Watters said. "Basketball’s a family in Wareham.”

A self-described “gym rat” who never wanted to stop practicing, Watters says he’s here to give back to a sport and organization that taught him a lot.

“Basketball was my saving grace. It kept me in school, off the streets,” said Watters. “I’d rather have [the kids] here than doing something they’re not supposed to.”

Wareham High School basketball player Amber Filkins played in the JBA and came back to volunteer as assistant coach of the Sky this winter.

“I played JBA for five years when I was younger,” said Filkins. “I just wanted to give back.”

Filkins is currently the leading female scorer in the South Coast Conference, and holds the Wareham High School record for most three-pointers (male or female). She says she wants to help prepare the younger players for high school, and be a role model to them.

“I know when I was a kid," she said, "I always looked up to my coaches."

Championship results:

Division 2 Girls: Lady Huskies, 24; Lady Blue Devils, 15

Division 2 Boys: Bruins, 39; Rebels, 30

Division 1 Girls: Sky, 18; Lynx, 10

Division 1 Boys: Heat, 52; Thunder, 36