Shooting Basketballs Instead of Guns : Gangs: Midnight games sponsored by the city lure young men from the South-Central L.A. shadows and into healthy competition.

Harvard Recreation Center in South-Central Los Angeles is usually locked up by 9 p.m., but last week it was flooded with light late into the evening--its gym a hardwood battleground for gang members determined to toss talk aside and show which side really had the best shot.

It was a different sort of gang fight, though. One where they targeted a basketball hoop instead of each other.

It’s called midnight basketball, the brainchild of anti-gang counselors, police officers and Los Angeles city park officials. Their hope is to give young men who might otherwise resort to gang violence on South-Central streets something else to do between dusk and dawn.

“At first, some of the gang members said, ‘No way, it’ll never happen,’ ” Andrew Williams, the center’s director, recalled as he watched the league’s first game last Thursday night. But “a lot of them are here tonight. We’ve got guys here who never sat in a gym this long in their lives.

“They’re not out on the street, and that’s good. Let them play on a court. Beat each other that way.”

Modeled after a program in Chicago, the $10,000 pilot effort is being sponsored by Community Youth Gang Services and the Los Angeles City Department of Recreation and Parks. The two agencies are working with the Los Angeles Police Department in putting on the novel program, scheduled to last until early summer.

“The idea is to provide some alternatives, so youngsters can channel some of their energies into positive activities,” Youth Gang Services’ Ed Turley said. The 10- to 12-week program is for males between 16 and 25 and will culminate in a championship game at the Los Angeles Sports Arena.

“And it shows the community these kids want to do positive things,” Turley said. “They don’t want to be in gangs. A lot of times we look at gang members as being aliens. They’re our children, our nephews and brothers. This gives them a feeling of belonging.”

Three nights a week, between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., young men from throughout South Los Angeles will be able to participate in the league.

Community Youth Gang Services, in an effort to reduce the risk of confrontations between rival gangs, will provide van service to pick up the participants at various recreation centers as well as provide youth counselors, officials said. Police officers will provide security at the games.

More than 100 people came out Thursday to see Latinos and blacks, Crips and Bloods compete on the court. Teams were designated by the recreation center that recruited them--not the gangs to which its team members belonged. Red and blue gang colors were exchanged for jerseys in neutral shades of burgundy and gold, black and white.

“We stay away from the names,” Williams said. “All of them have different colored jerseys with the same thing on it, MB--midnight basketball.”

Mac, a heavyset 18-year-old gang member dressed in black, walked into the gym just after the first game began. On any given night, he said, “I’d be hanging out at the park, getting drunk.” But this night, he said he’d rather be here, “watching my homeboys play.”

Some doubted, however, that midnight basketball games could do anything to cut down on gang violence. One man, 23 and two weeks out of jail, sipped a cup of coffee and offered sideline criticism.

“Ain’t no killers up here,” he said, refusing to give his name. “I know that. These are youngsters. I was raised up around here. I don’t think it’s going to change.”

But others voiced optimism.

Jerry, a 15-year-old self-described “associate” of a neighborhood gang, was on the losing side of a game that ended 48-40. But he saw victory in the fact that the game was played at all.

“It can help them see they’re winners,” he said, walking off into the darkness with a group of friends. “I feel good. I’ll be here tomorrow.”