With sneakers squeaking and teammates cheering, young players from the Burgo Basketball Association’s summer league took to the court Monday night, June 24, for another round of spirited games and for some, their first-ever season of Burgo basketball.

“I like it. I love it,” said 8-year-old Nora Martin, a first-time Burgo player who’s already racked up experience in several youth leagues. “I like doing crossovers, dribbles — I try to get the ball. I try passing to my teammates and when they pass it back, if I find somebody open, I shoot it back and it’s just fun.”

Martin said she enjoys the thrill of close games and loves “hustling back and forth,” whether it ends in a tie or a last-minute basket. “Basketball is always fun because I always like trying sports,” she said. “When I was littler, I was dribbling my basketball back and forth around the house. I just grew up playing basketball a little bit, and now this is my fourth league.”

For 9-year-old Sabrina Alvarado, it’s her first season and already her favorite.

“It was way much better than I thought it was going to be because I made a lot of friends that I knew at school,” she said. Grinning wide, she picked up her friend and teammate Elayna Cancel, 10, and bellowed, “And guess what, this is my favorite!”

Sabrina said her dad, who also coaches her team, was the one who signed her up after she forgot she could play last year. “I only did basketball because I’ve been waiting for too many years not to do it,” she said. On the court, her father brings intensity — but the car ride home is full of encouragement and praise.

Of their most recent game, which ended in a 15-12 win, she said, “It was actually a good game … but it was fair.”

Elayna Cancel, also playing her first Burgo season, said the game runs in her family.

“My dad was a player and he was a coach and it kind of runs in our blood,” she said. “I really like playing basketball.” She added that her team was told “no threes allowed” — a move by their coach to keep the match balanced for the other team.

Aaron Matteos, 11, is in his second season with Burgo and said it’s been “pretty good.” His father, who also coaches his team, was the one who got him interested in joining.

“He’s a great coach,” Aaron said.

Burgo Basketball Association’s summer league will continue through the season, giving kids of all ages and experience levels a chance to play across the South Coast — one pass, dribble and hustle at a time.