ADAMS TWP — Wins and losses don’t matter. Pride and teamwork do.

Such words have come to life at Longmore Academy.

The 70-student school for troubled youths — featuring residential and commuter children — became the seventh member of the Western Pennsylvania Intramural Therapeutic League this school year.

“We have kids here in different family situations,” physical education teacher and coach Darrin Lynch said. “Some are residents. Some go home to their families at night.

“Kids used to get into verbal, sometimes physical confrontations with each other because they felt they were different, but not so much anymore.

“Now we’re all Longhorns,” he added, referring to the shool’s nickname.

The WPITL consists of seven schools, including Wesley Spectrum Academy in Greensburg, Wesley Highland in Bridgeville, Pace in the South Hills, Pressely Ridge, Watson Institute in Sewickley and Glade Run in Zelienople.

The league formed in 2008. Karlon Nixon of Wesley Spectrum Academy is the commissioner.

“We’ve been wanting to expand to the north,” Nixon said. “Glade Run came on board last year and they talked to Longmore about joining.”

The league features flag football in the fall, coed basketball and girls volleyball in the winter and coed soccer in the spring.

Longmore became enthused about joining the league after Lynch combined staff members and six students last spring to form a dek hockey team that competed against other teams in the community in Cranberry Township.

“That got the ball rolling toward this,” said Amy Smith, Longmore’s development manager. “We received funding for that team from an anonymous donor and it really made a difference with the kids.”

“Behavior, grades, relationships ... There were improvements in all areas,” Lynch said.

Nixon isn’t surprised.

“Those improvements are commonplace in this league,” he said. “I have a football player who averaged 87 percent during the season. When football season ended, his grades dropped to 72 percent.

“No question, sports serve as motivation for these kids.”

Longmore Dean of Students Tarl Chapman said there’s been a direct correlation between improved student behavior and the formation of sports teams.

“Incidents and student confrontations in the halls used to occur on a fairly regular basis,” he admitted. “Since we got involved in this league, those situations have just about disappeared.

“Playing on a team means a lot to these kids and they know if they don’t behave, they won’t play. That’s a motivational tool we’ve never had before.”

Longmore’s residential program manager, Sandy Booth, saw an immediate change in a student once he joined the Longhorns’ basketball team.

“He had become a safety concern, making no effort to right himself,” Booth said. “Last night, he took accountability for his actions. For the previous eight or nine months, he had never done that.

“He wants to stay a part of that team. Our sports teams are providing a unique support system. That networking with fellow students helps a kid’s attitude.”

Approximately half of Longmore’s student population participates on at least one of its teams. The school’s administration hopes to raise that participation to 100 percent in the next couple of years.

“Since we formed these teams to compete against other schools, there’s a sense of community and school pride that didn’t exist here before,” Smith said.

Games are played during school hours, so the student body can attend and support the home team.

Longmore’s football team used the soccer fields on campus for its home games. The Longhorns finished 5-3 and hosted the league tournament at the end of the year.

The league’s basketball tournament at the end of this season will be played at Duquesne University’s Palumbo Center.

“Most of the kids enrolled here have never had the opportunity to play organized sports for the school in their community,” Lynch said. “A lot of them aren’t sure they can do it or were hesitant to try it.

“As more and more of them actually see these games and what the league is all about, more and more want to try it.’

The WPITL hopes to add bowling, dek hockey, coed volleyball, kickball and track and field in the near future.

Longmore plans to expand its athletic program by remodeling its gym — upgrading the flooring and bleachers — and adding a dek hockey rink.

“We want to find a sport for every student,” Smith said. “We’re seeking community support to get all of this accomplished.”