MALONE – The Ken Cring Memorial League, formerly known as the Franklin CYO Basketball League, wrapped up its 57th season this past weekend at St. Joseph’s Elementary School, with the Ogdensburg Boys and Girls Club (OGBC) taking the title over Fischer, Bessette, Muldowney & McArdle LLP (FBMM), 51-42.
The Boys and Girls Club took control in a high scoring first quarter, as Hugh Colburn scored 10 of his game-high 23 points in the first to pace Ogdensburg. Dylan Keating scored six points in the quarter to keep the game close as Ogdensburg took an 18-13 lead into the first break.
The offense slowed down considerably in the second quarter, with Ogdensburg pulling ahead 28-17 by halftime after holding the FBMM squad to just two buckets for the entire quarter. Colburn added another five points to his total for the OGBC while Ben Poupore and Connor Hanna each scored for FBMM.
Three players scored four points each for FBMM as they doubled Ogdensburg’s point total 14-7 in the third quarter to bring the deficit down to four heading into the final stanza, but Ogdensburg responded as Jonny Bateman went a perfect 6-for-6 from the foul line and scored 12 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter to seal the victory for Ogdensburg.
Colburn led the way for the Boys and Girls Club, netting a game-high 23 points in the victory. Bateman added 15 points for Ogdensburg, and Scottie Oshier chipped in nine. Nevin Perkins had four points, while Nick Davison rounded out the scoresheet with two.
Jeb Shea led a balanced scoring effort on the losing side with nine points for the runner-ups. Poupore and Hanna each had seven points, while Keating followed with six. Carson West netted five points, and Jacob Payne finished with four.
Formed by the late Ken Cring in 1966, the league has long been a pillar of the Malone community, providing the opportunity to learn the sport of basketball to hundreds of children during its run. After Cring’s passing in December of 2022, Mike Lavoie and Merrill McKee became co-directors in an effort to keep the league going.
“I felt like it was important to continue this for the kids,” explained Lavoie. “It is important that these kids still have the chance to grow not only in the game of basketball, but as people in our beloved community.”
The league was renamed in the middle of the season, with a public ceremony held on January 13 to honor Cring and all that he brought to the community during his time in Malone.
“Merrill McKee and myself decided to rename the league,” said Lavoie. “We wanted to continue to do the work that Ken would us to do.”
Five teams competed in the league this year, from locally sponsored squads right in Malone all the way out to Ogdensburg. Team sign-ups for next season will begin in August, with a tentative start to the season listed for December 2.
“I’d like to thank the community for everything they have done to help keep this league a success,” said Lavoie. “They’ve really stepped up and demonstrated why our community is so great.”
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