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Thankfully, Bower League basketball finds needed home

Count us among those thrilled – and somewhat relieved – to find out the John H. Bower Sunday School Basketball League has found a new home for this season.

The league, for a time, was without a place to play its games with the removal of basketball courts at the Liberty Arena over the summer.

But the league was able to find a dual home for its games this winter – the Bardo Gymnasium at the Pennsylvania College of Technology and the Curtin Intermediate School courts. Both have been previous homes to Bower games during the league’s history.

And quite a storied history it is.

Since 1921, the Bower League has been making basketball for children part of local church activities.

This year the league consists of about 500 players of different ages on 60 church teams.

Founded by John H. Bower, a probation officer, it is the largest church basketball league in America.

Since Bower died in 1962, at least 47,000 youth have participated.

For all of the participants, the league creates the opportunity to learn about teamwork.

It offers the opportunity for friendships beyond that I-pad in the corner of the living room. And it’s connected to a family’s church at a time when families and churches need each other more than ever but often can’t see the need for the link.

The games will continue through February. They will bring a lot of families out of the house on Saturdays to watch a son, daughter, niece, nephew, granddaughter or grandson play a game. Mistakes will be giggled at and baskets will bring raucous cheers.

There will be lots of smiles.

And lots of learning – the best way ­- by doing.

There will be lessons in sportsmanship, teamwork, how to win and how to lose.

Welcome back, Bower League. Don’t ever go away.

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