Basketball players from YMCAs across the city played in an intense competition at the Major Owens Community Center in Crown Heights this past week.

Among the dozens of kids on hand was Luis Ortega Garcia from the Long Island City YMCA.

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The YMCA of Greater New York held its first ever Battle of the Boroughs Youth Basketball Competition in Brooklyn 

14 teams from YMCAs around the five boroughs participated in the sklills competition

The young people were from the YMCA’s free Saturday Night Lights Basketball Programs 

“I can spot out a bunch of people I can play against, and I know I will be on the same level as them, it’s just cool like seeing this happen to us today,” said Ortega Garcia, who lives in Woodside and plays for the Varsity team at Queens Complex High School as a sophomore. 

It was the first YMCA of Greater New York Battle of the Boroughs Youth Basketball Competition, presented in partnership with the New York Knicks and NY1’s parent company Spectrum.

Kids from the YMCA’s free drop-in Saturday Night Lights Basketball programs competed in skills challenges like shooting, layups and scrimmages.

“They are trying to help you get to your best and pushing you past your limits,” player Iviana Buist from the Flushing YMCA said about the program.

The Knicks were represented by their player Dillon Jones, who participated in some one-on-one challenges against a number of the kids. Knicks alumn and former Syracuse Orange star John Wallace was also on hand to greet the young hoopsters. 

The YMCA began their partnership with the Knicks in 2021 and hosted more than 1,300 youth basketball clinics.

“All I know is the Knicks win a championship every year in the community with the way we give back, and the dedication to the community,” said Wallace, who played for the Knicks in the 1996-1997 and 1999-2000 seasons. 

Approximately 150 kids and teens from 14 YMCA branches participated, with South Shore YMCA from Staten Island won the competition.

“I hope that our young people walk away hopefully with some pride in the skills that they have developed, a new best friend, teamwork and knowing that no matter what they try to do, as long as they stick to it and have teamwork and have sportsmanship at the center, they already walk away the victor,” Nicole Cruz, senior director for Citywide Teen Programs at the YMCA of Greater New York, said.Â