JACKSON – The Jackson Liberty Boys Basketball Team recently joined the Challenger League for a scrimmage that proved to be quite a workout.
Don Connor, who serves as the high school’s head coach and is a teacher in the history department, described the match by saying, “it was a morning filled with smiles and laughs along with a lot of good basketball.”
“After participating in a number of fundamental drills, those in attendance got to play real time basketball. The challenger league members were assisted by a number of current high school students and Liberty players,” he added.
Connor applauded all the volunteers and participants of the challenger league for their hard work and dedication.
Corey Harnett, a senior forward on the Liberty team summed up the experience quite well: “Coach Connor has always emphasized the importance of helping out the community as much as possible. He really tries to teach us about life, not only basketball. This morning was extremely fun for all of us.”
Connor said he hopes for this not only to be an annual event but conducted several times a season. “It seems as if it was a really good time for all who attended.”
The Jackson Liberty Boys Basketball program is a member of the NJSIAA and the Shore Conference B South Division. In the team’s 14 years of Varsity experience, it has six NJSIAA State Playoff appearances (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018 & 2019) and two Shore Conference Tournament appearances (2012 and 2013). The 2018-19 Lions were B-South Champions.
The Jackson Liberty Boys Basketball program believes in hard work, discipline, and accountability, Connor said. “All of our student-athletes are held academically accountable because they are students first. This philosophy has a positive effect on every aspect of our student-athletes’ lives, as well as the overall climate of the school. Through athletics, the high school’s coaching staff seeks to better equip these young men for life. Our goal is to create winners who strive for greatness, on and off the court.”
According to the school district’s website, those seeking additional information can follow the team on X (@jlibhoops) for news, schedules, scores, and more as the team aims to qualify for both the State and Shore Conference tournaments this season and break new ground by winning our first postseason game in program history.
According to the Challenger League website, Athletics.org, “Challenger Athletics’ mission is to develop independence, confidence and self-esteem through socialization and non-competitive sports programs for individuals with physical and learning disabilities.”
The group’s goal is to “increase awareness and provide educational resources to the athlete, their families and the larger community.”
For additional information about Challenger Basketball contact the Commission office at 732-928-3334 or e-mail KLundgren@JacksonTwpNJ.net
