Minor League Basketball Team Makes Hall Of Fame Visit

Image by Justin Gould/WNYNewsNow.

JAMESTOWN – On Monday, the Jamestown Jackals basketball team paid a visit to the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame to talk about their upcoming season in a new basketball league.

The Jackals were promoted to The Basketball League (TBL) last August after playing in the North American Basketball League (NABL.) It’s also the team’s second promotion in two years.

Jackals players, owner/general manager, Kayla Crosby, and head coach Mark Anderson provided an autographed basketball which was donated to the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame.





During the duration of the visit, both Crosby and Anderson spoke about a variety of things, including off-court activities, the level of difficulty it was to cutting down the roster, and the new team house.

“It’s really a blessing, we were able to move 12 guys into our team house on Saturday afternoon.” Crosby said. Crosby also spoke about donations for house renovations, as well as a trip to the Frewsburg Rest Home, featuring shuffleboard and a juice party with residents.

Coach Anderson added, “Off the court, these guys hang out together. It helps that we’re all in one space. But the thing is, they can all go off into their own rooms and do things, but they choose to do things together and I think that, at this level, is huge.”





















Anderson also added in a team created acronym of the word FAIR, “Family, Accountability, Integrity, and Respect/Responsibility.”

With opponents all over the country, Anderson explained, “When we’re not playing, we have to make sure to take care of our bodies. The way you perform on the court, off the court, being professional, that all takes into what we’re doing here.”

When questioned about the difficulty of having to cut the roster down to the appropriate capacity, Anderson stated, “It’s been very difficult, I’ve been doing this since 1987. I’ve been coaching basketball since 1983, since I was in college. I’ve seen a lot and I’ve seen a lot of players, and I’ve assembled a lot of teams over that time.”

Anderson also spoke about the quality of the roster prior to the team scrimmage which was last Friday, as well as it being the most difficult cut down he has ever done.









Players also had an opportunity to chime in. Ohndo Smith, one of the team’s forwards, stated, “I just told them (the Jackals players), to embrace the community, and to just take it for what it is, and make the best of every opportunity that you’re given, because it may be your last.”

Glenroy Carr, Jr, another forward for the team, added, “I’ve had the opportunity to play in Jamestown in high school, and on a professional level with the Buffalo 716ers.”

Carr also spoke about playing against Jamestown on the road three times while at Sweet Home High School, as well as his desire to play in Jamestown.

This year’s schedule will consist of 16 home games, including two Kids Day games on the first two days of April at 11 a.m.

The Jackals will open up the regular season at home on Friday night at 7:00 against the Albany Patroons.

All home games will be played at the Physical Education Center at Jamestown Community College.

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