Narciso Quintana always wondered what happened to the little kids who didn't make the school's basketball team.

"A lot of kids in school don't make the team. Most teams are made up of 12 players in a school, but what happens to the other kids?" Quintana said. "They don't get to play basketball."

So 16 years ago, Quintana set out to create the Pojoaque Youth Basketball League, where all the kids who didn't make the school's team could play. His league just wrapped up one more year of youth basketball play for ages 4 to 14 in the Pojoaque area.

"Kids, they need something to do, especially on weekends," Quintana said. "I feel this program does more keeping the kids from breaking into homes and crime and drugs — more so than law enforcement. If we had more programs like this, we'd have less crime."

Currently, the league plays from January to the end of February and many of the teams are coached by parents. Quintana is hoping to start a summer league and is in the process of soliciting donations and grants to fund a potential summer program.

The winter league is paid for by registration fees, Quintana said, which nearly covers the approximate $9,000 per season it takes to run the league. The registration fees pay for the league's shirts, basketballs, score books, whistles and time clocks. The league also pays for custodians to clean up after the games, which are played at the gyms of Pojoaque Valley's schools.

"When I did start the league, I did use part of my own money to get it going," Quintana said. But it was worth it, he said. "The highlights to me is when the kids are running back and forth and learning to dribble and go to the basket — especially the girls. I'm really so proud of them; they're very competitive and they're just as good as the boys."

Two of Quintana's three girls played in his league.

He noted the league has grown tremendously since he started it. It went from eight teams to 36, and many of the kids go on to play high school basketball.

"The majority of kids who play in my league end up playing in the high-school leagues — the Pojoaque Elks and Elkettes, Española, Los Alamos," Quintana said. "After they go out and play in the high-school level, I do visit with some of them. I enjoy going to see their games. I think it's got to be one of the greatest honors there is to see these kids grow up and become model kids."

Mark Lujan likes the league because it gives his kids — Miguel, 10, and Jacen, 7, something to do, and teaches them a positive lesson.

"It really helps them, not only physically, but it helps them to learn to play together," said Lujan, who is also a coach of the 7-year-olds' team. "They learn to play together and learn about team ethics."

In addition to funding, Quintana is looking to the community for volunteer coaches and referees. Running the league is a lot of work, but he couldn't do it without his right-hand person — Dianne Baros.

"She's been with me 14 years," Quintana said. "She does all the paperwork for me and without her, it would be almost impossible."

Baros was even selected as one of The New Mexican's "10 Who Made a Difference" in 2007 for her work with the league — work that includes recruitment in front of supermarkets and keeping on top of publicizing the league.

"The program is so great," Quintana said. "I want people to see that this program is very helpful ... My intention is to try to keep kids from going on the streets and doing harm."

To donate, volunteer or help Quintana get a summer league started, call him at 455-7429.

Contact Ana Maria Trujillo at 986-3084 or atrujillo@sfnewmexican.com.