Youngsters ranging in age from 6 to 17 showed off the basketball skills they have learned from more than two dozen dedicated volunteer coaches during special opening ceremonies last Saturday morning at the Bainbridge-Decatur County YMCA.

YMCA youth sports director Jimmy Holton said the ceremonies, which officially tipped off the winter youth basketball league, were the result of  a lot of hard work by a lot of people,

“We have been working on these opening ceremonies for the past two months and our volunteer coaches and referees have just been great,” Holton said Saturday morning.

“Seeing all the young kids enjoy themselves is realy heartwarming. We are extremely grateful to Mrs. Kirbo and  her husband Bruce for their strong financial and moral support.

“Through the Kirbo Charitable Trust, Mrs. Cass, for whom the YMCA’s Cass Kirbo Tennis Center is named, and Mr. Bruce, have contributed generously to the YMCA.”

Holton and YMCA interim director Mike Haynes said that the best part of the Kirbo basketball program is that it emphasizes academic skills as well as basketball skills.

Through the Kirbo Scholars Program, young basketball players are honored for making the honor roll at their school.