A Surging Saugus Sport

The town experiences growth in young girls’ basketball as program grows from a dozen to 110 players in three years

By Mark E. Vogler

It would be an understatement to say young girls’ basketball wasn’t very popular in town three years ago. Chris Howe remembers that his then-six-year-old daughter Olivia was just one of a dozen players who signed up for the Girls Basketball Program through the town’s Youth & Recreation Department. “There just wasn’t much of a program,” recalled Howe, who was then a volunteer coach.

But girls’ interest in the sport has surged over the last two years, with 85 girls involved in the program last year and 110 already signed up so far this season as tonight’s (Nov. 15) midnight deadline approached. “We have got enough players for 10 teams so far, with the ability to put eight to 10 players on each team,” Howe said in a recent interview.

“I’m excited and looking forward to a great season,” he said.

Howe is beginning his second season as the Saugus Youth and Rec Girls Basketball Program Director, while his daughter, now nine, is a fourth-grader at Belmonte STEAM Academy. “Over the past two years since I took over in 2023, the girls league has grown from 22 girls to currently over 100. We have become one of the largest programs in town and there is a lot of excitement for the upcoming winter season after a highly successful 2024-25 season,” he said. Howe believes the rise in popularity of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) has helped to spur interest in the local girls’ basketball program.

“My daughter was my inspiration and the reason to get this program going in the right direction,” said Howe, 38, a Melrose native who moved to town 12 years ago. His wife, Lauren, teaches Kindergarten at the Veterans Early Learning Center.

“I just wanted to see a better program. My goal is to just provide the best program we can, see kids show up and have fun and make some lasting memories that they can take away from this league,” he said.

“For me, it’s a passion. I don’t consider this a job. I’m happy to do this. The girls who are involved with the program range from kids who have played basketball for years to girls who just picked up a basketball. I started a summer league for girls this summer and got 110 to turn out. That’s unheard of,” he said.

Last year, Howe launched a kindergarten program called Kindergarten Little Hoopsters. It will run again this year.

Today [Nov. 14] is the final day for girls to sign up. The deadline will expire at midnight. There is a signup link provided by the Youth and Rec (http://bit.ly/SaugusYouthBball25). “We will be having our mandatory evaluation nights shortly after,” Howe said.

“These are not tryouts; every child makes a team and all are welcome to play regardless of prior basketball experience. Evaluation night is our effective kickoff to the season and allows coaches to create fun and fair teams for all,” he said.

Evaluation night for the girls program (Grades 1-6) is Wednesday, Nov. 19 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Belmonte STEAM Academy. Check in begins at 5:30 p.m. Evaluation Night for the Boys program (Boys Grades 3, 4, 5, 6) is Tuesday, Nov. 18 at Belmonte. Chris Porrazzo is the director of the boys program.

“Between Girls, Boys, and Kindergarten programs we have over 300 kids signed up to play basketball this season – and climbing,” Howe said.

“Our opening day for games will be Saturday, December 13 and we are opening it up to the town to come down and check out the games. Girls first games will begin at 11AM at Belmonte Gym on 12/13. We will have special guest announcers as well,” he said.

Boys will play their games at the gym in the Veterans Early Learning Center.