Behind the Badge
They take a shot any chance they get.
Often they miss — the ball sometimes brushing underneath the net or hitting the rim with a dull thud.
The crowd cheers for the effort, yelling louder when a shot goes in.
The children running up and down the court at the Westminster Boys & Girls Club want to win, but that’s not what the game is really about.
They’re just happy to play.
My Ho of team Anderson looks for an open teammate as Erick Gutierrez from team Webber guards during the Hoops Basketball League championship game sponsored by the Westminster Police Officer’s Association. Ho went on to score 6 points in the game.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Sixty children from Westminster’s six elementary and middle schools participate in Westminster Police Officers’ Association Hoops, a league paid for and run by members of WPD.
“A lot of these kids don’t play sports and, for some, this is the only opportunity they have to play in a league,” said Westminster Cpl. Scott Gump, who runs the league with Det. Michael Harvey.
The POA revived the league in 2014 after a six-year hiatus.
Coaches volunteer their time to run one weekly practice and a Saturday day game, often after working 12-hour graveyards shifts.
“It’s a lot of work, but (we) love being involved in the community,” Gump said. “I love community participation, especially in a role-model situation.”
Coaches from all the Hoops Basketball League gather on the bench before the start of the awards ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
To participate in the league, children must be members of the Boys & Girls Club after-school program and must be well behaved in school.
“If we hear they act out at school, they get disciplined for it; they might have to sit out a game,” Gump said. “It teaches them respect and hopefully that transfers over to their personal life.”
The benefits of organized sports are a given, but the Hoops league is about more than teaching athletic skills, Gump said.
“I think one of the best things they get out of this is the human interaction with police officers out of uniform,” he said. “This is a positive, fun sport that teaches them a lot about leadership and gives them a friendly interaction with police officers.”
WPD Cpl. Scott Gump, pictured, runs the league with Detective Michael Harvey. Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
On a recent Saturday, the teams warmed up for their weekly game with a shooting drill.
Ten-year-old Salvador Jaramillo, from Willmore Elementary School, stood with his toes edging the three-point line.
He takes a shot — swish.
He takes another — a rim bounce, then in.
“I practice a lot,” Jaramillo said of his shooting skills.
The fourth-grader is playing in the league for the first time this year.
“I just like it,” he said. “It’s really fun.”
Parents and friends watch from the bleachers.
Patricia Coronel has eyes on her son, Alex, who was named a Hoops All-Star this year.
Her son is athletic — he also plays dodge ball and baseball at the Boys & Girls Club. But this is only organized league he participates in, she said.
Alex Coronel of team Anderson takes the ball down court during the Hoops Basketball League championship game sponsored by the Westminster Police Officer’s Association. Coronel went on to score 8 points in the game.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
“This teaches them so many things,” she said. “It teaches them to show up, be on time and how to have responsibility.”
After the shooting drill, the teams break up and 20 children get ready for the All-Star game.
The game is a hectic back and forth of squeaking shoes on wood floors, intercepted passes and impossible jump shots.
But then, someone sinks one.
The crowd cheers, and the child wearing a sweaty game face with flushed cheeks smiles big.
This is why they coach.
“A lot of us get joy out of the happiness this brings the kids,” Gump said. “It’s rewarding to see the kids having fun.”
Alex Coronel of team Anderson grabs the ball before taking it down court during the Hoops Basketball League championship game sponsored by the Westminster Police Officer’s Association. Coronel went on to score 8 points in the game.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Tommy Pham of team Anderson runs to the basket and scores during the Hoops Basketball League championship game sponsored by the Westminster Police Officer’s Association. Pham went on to score 11 points in the game.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Honey Nguyen, left, Eduardo Zarate and Kyle Pham of team Webber scramble to keep the ball from Henry Booth of team Anderson during the Hoops Basketball League championship game sponsored by the Westminster Police Officer’s Association.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Honey Nguyen of team Webber passes the ball to an open teammate during the Hoops Basketball League championship game sponsored by the Westminster Police Officer’s Association. Nguyen scored two points in the game.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Tommy Pham of team Anderson takes the ball to the basket as as Alexandra Gasca from team Webber reaches in during the Hoops Basketball League championship game sponsored by the Westminster Police Officer’s Association. Pham went on to score 11 points in the game, Gasca scored 2.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Nolyn Om of team Anderson scores against Webber during the Hoops Basketball League championship game sponsored by the Westminster Police Officer’s Association. Om went on to score 4 points in the game.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Alexandra Gasca of team Webber takes the ball down court during the Hoops Basketball League championship game sponsored by the Westminster Police Officer’s Association. Gasca scored 2 points in the game.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Kennedy of team Webber, left, and Henry Booth of team Anderson reach for a rebound during the Hoops Basketball League championship game sponsored by the Westminster Police Officer’s Association.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Alex Coronel of team Anderson holds onto the ball as Alexandra Gasca of team Webber reaches in during the Hoops Basketball League championship game sponsored by the Westminster Police Officer’s Association.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
The Westminster Police Officer’s Association Hoops Basketball League championship game with Boys & Girls Club of Westminster. Photo by Steven Georges.
Nolyn Om of team Anderson runs with the ball as Eduardo Zarate of team Webber guards during the Hoops Basketball League championship game sponsored by the Westminster Police Officer’s Association. Om went on to score 4 points in the game.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Westminster Police Chief Kevin Baker gets ready to hand out medals to kids at the Boys & Girls Club of Westminster during the start of the Hoops Basketball League awards ceremony sponsored by the Westminster Police Officer’s Association.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Team Webber huddles between quarters during the Hoops Basketball League championship game sponsored by the Westminster Police Officer’s Association.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Andy Vasconcelos of team Anderson, left, and Erick Gutierrez of team Webber leap for a rebound during the Hoops Basketball League championship game sponsored by the Westminster Police Officer’s Association. Gutierrez scored 4 points in the game and Vasconcelos scored 2.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Honey Nguyen of team Webber passes the ball during the Hoops Basketball League championship game sponsored by the Westminster Police Officer’s Association. Nguyen scored 2 points in the game.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Players and coaches from team Fryberger gather after taking third place for the Westminster Police Officer’s Association’s 2015 Hoops Basketball League championship at the Boys & Girls Club of Westminster.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Players and coaches from team Webber gather after taking second place for the Westminster Police Officer’s Association’s 2015 Hoops Basketball League championship at the Boys & Girls Club of Westminster.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Kids and coaches from team Anderson celebrate their first place championship win at the Boys & Girls Club of Westminster during the start of the Hoops Basketball League awards ceremony sponsored by the Westminster Police Officer’s Association.
Behind them is Westminster Police Chief Kevin Baker and Deputy Chief Dan Schoonmaker.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
