The Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) boys’ basketball season is underway, and to kick off another exciting hoops campaign, St. Edmund Prep, Sheepshead Bay, hosted its 20th annual Tip-Off Tournament, at left, for a handful of local eighth-grade boys’ basketball teams.

Directed by St. Edmund’s boys’ varsity basketball coach and co-athletic director Dan Wiatre, the tournament allows players to gain a familiarity with each other before heading into the bulk of their regular season.

Many of the teams will play each other during the upcoming basketball season, so the tournament also helps teams get a good look at opponents in a competitive environment.

The Tip-Off Tournament is an early season CYO tradition and once again has the competitive juices flowing in anticipation of the regular season.

The LaGuardia Community College, Long Island City, Lady Red Hawks women’s basketball team ran a free basketball clinic, at right, for members of the American Martyrs, Bayside, basketball program on Oct. 25. Lady Red Hawks’ student-athletes led the youth players through a series of drills and then signed autographs afterward. LaGuardia head coach Anthony Alfaro is parishioner and former youth coach at American Martyrs.