The third annual Joshua House Three-on-three Street Basketball Tournament is scheduled for Saturday, July 19 at 10th St. in Tyrone.
There are several divisions of competition for the tournament including: sixth and seventh grade combined, eighth and ninth grade boys, eighth and ninth grade girls, tenth through twelfth grade boys, tenth through twelfth grade girls, open and all star.
Every player who registers will receive a T-shirt and will play a minimum of three games.
The pre-registration deadline is July 16, with the cost of $45 per team. Registration closes on July 19 at 10 a.m., with a same day registration cost of $60 per team. Games are scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m. and run until they are finished.
Organizing the tournament is a huge task, and there are a number of people in charge of planning and preparing for the event.
Director of Joshua House Jim Kilmartin said he has many volunteers helping and that Allison Nagy has really helped out this year with the tournament. He said approximately 30 – 40 people helped last year, and it is about the same this year.
He also said the tournament is growing. The first year there were 15 teams, and last year there were over 20 teams. He said this year they have expanded some of the divisions, so they are hoping for about 40 teams.
The day is a fun event for everyone involved. The kids participate in the basketball tournament. There is also a three-point contest. Kilmartin said there will also be a dunk contest, if there is enough interest. Prizes are awarded to everyone, and music will be played throughout the day.
Scheduled referees for the event are Jim Virgilio, Mark Rothgeb and Lou Dilonardo. People donating basketball hoops to be used for the tournament are Kilmartin, Matt Ray, Will Jones, Craig Hammond and the Garbinski’s.
Sponsors for the event include: The Beauty Salon, Healthy Alternatives, Ace Hardware, Adam M. Kruczay, D.P.M, Eden Hill Enterprises, The Bullpen, Monika’s Cards and Gifts, Ray Burial Vault, WM Auto World, DelGrosso’s, Open Door Visions, G’s Tees and SandyRidge Paintball.
Prizes for the event include: eight tickets from the Altoona Curve, an autographed Curve baseball, and Curve hats and a bat, four certificates to SandyRidge Paintball, four $25 gift certificates to The Bullpen, five all day passes to DelGrosso’s and basketballs for winners.
Kilmartin said there is really two reasons for having the tournament. The first is because it is a fundraiser for Joshua House, and the second is because it is a community activity. He said that last year the tournament brought over 200 people downtown to watch the games and to have a fun time. Many family members come to watch their kids play in the tournament, and so it is also a family outing.
After the basketball tournament, there is a scheduled Thrive gathering at 6:30 p.m. at the 10th Street Parking Lot 2. The bands include: Antioch and a local group, Josh Shaffer and the Jones Boys.
Kilmartin said there is a need for more help with the basketball tournament. Volunteers are needed for scorekeeping, food, registration, set-up and tear-down, and especially volunteer referees.
Soda, gatorade and bottled water are also needed for the event. Anyone wishing to donate any of these items can drop them off at Joshua House on Wednesday, Thursday or Fridays between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
For more information about the basketball tournament or for more information about volunteering or donating items for the event, call 684-2032.
