The popular Cub Basketball clinic and games, offered to youngsters through the Escalon High School boys and girls basketball programs, has completed another year.

Varsity boys basketball head coach Nate Bartelink, who also serves as the high school’s athletic director, said the program saw good participation from youngsters and again was run primarily by high school players and coaches.

The young hoopsters wrapped up the program with an end of season tournament recently, culminating a several-week program that saw them start with clinics to introduce them to the sport, then suit up for several weeks of games.

“We had five separate groups,” Bartelink explained. “Three boys and two girls, boys were 7-8, 9-10 and 11- to 14-year-olds, girls groups were 7 to 9 and 10 to 14.”

About 175 elementary and middle school students were involved in the Cub Basketball program this season.

Bartelink said the sign-ups have held steady the past few years and the program is helping the hoopsters get more comfortable on the court.

“They’re getting better,” he said.

Even after the initial clinics, players would start each Saturday warming up with their coaches, doing some dribbling, passing and shooting drills before playing the games. No official scores were kept, and parents and spectators cheered equally for all the baskets made as the youngsters found success on the court.