Kids of all ages weaved through traffic cones and shot baskets at Greater New Bedford Vocational Technical High School on Sunday, Feb. 16, trying out for the Burgo Basketball Association’s upcoming spring season.

“They come in, they do layups, they do shots, they do defense, they do five-on-five or three-on-three, just so we can see what they have and who’s capable of making it and who isn’t,” said Director Steve Burgo.

Alianna Paquette, 14, has been playing basketball with the Burgo Basketball Association since she was in fifth grade and said she returns each season because the association is “very enthusiastic and optimistic.”

“It just makes it a good community,” she added.

While Burgo is awaiting the opening of the Burgo Basketball Association’s recreational facility, Paquette said the association has an easier time getting access to gym facilities and also plays in more tournaments than other associations she’s played for before.

Khole Cabral, 14, who started playing in the Burgo Basketball Association last fall, said the “league pushes you to be your best self,” adding that the coaches push the players because they know they “have value in basketball [and] have the love” and want to reinforce that.

“My main thing is to teach the kids the game, but also teach how to be human beings,” Burgo said. “That’s really important.”

He added that while not every kid who tries out is going to play competitively in high school or go on to be pro players, the coaches will help those who dream of taking basketball further.

“We’re here to help with whatever they want,” Burgo said.

Try outs for the seventh and eighth graders ended in a short scrimmage that saw the girls and boys play with each other.

“I thought it was fun that it wasn’t just split boys and girls and that we could show that it’s not just a boy sport, and that girls can play it just as good as them,” Cabral said.

Paquette, Cabral and the other kids who tried out will soon hear back on whether they made the team, and if they did, practice starts in March, Cabral said.

“If you don’t make it, just heads up and keep on trying at it,” she added.

Burgo said he “hates to say it — all the kids don’t make it, and it kills me,” adding that during the summer season all the kids who try out will get to play.

Kids start playing in April, usually goes through to June, next will be in September and go from there.

“We try and keep as busy as we can and keep them as busy as we can,” Burgo said.