Hampton Basketball Association finishes 1st full season

The Hampton Basketball Association just finished its first full season with more than 50 players and seven teams.

Founded in 2019, the association was waylaid by the covid-19 pandemic but it started offering basketball clinics last summer.

The seven teams played a full season from late November through early March. Girls and boys in the third through sixth grade are eligible to play.

The association fills a longtime void in Hampton — a feeder team for the township’s high school basketball teams and more playing and developmental opportunities for township youth.

“Having kids in that age group with an interest in playing more competitively, myself and other parents recognized a need and a potential for a basketball association,” said Drew Bosetti, the association’s board president and one of its founders.

Bosetti said he was encouraged by the turnout and play for the current season.

“The feedback was positive from players, parents and coaches,” he said.

When Joseph Lafko, Hampton’s varsity basketball head coach, arrived in the district 26 years ago, he tried to start a basketball association but didn’t garner enough support from the district and the community.

Lafko said he was pleased to see the Hampton Basketball Association come to fruition.

“It is so important for a basketball program to have a youth association for player development, and structure,” he said.

The association teams play against other youth basketball leagues in Richland, Wexford and Monroeville. Home games are played at Hampton’s Central Elementary School and away games are held at courts in Allegheny and Butler counties.

Most teams practice and play a game at least once a week.

Tryouts for next season will be held in October.

Player costs range from $275 to $300 a season, which covers gym rental fees, uniforms and referees.

The association’s board is planning to expand and is seeking more members and coaches.

For more information, visit the association’s website at hamptonba.com or its Facebook page, Hampton Youth Basketball Association.