Tournament was two weekends
Every year for the last seven years, March Mania in Highland Falls has grown. But perhaps this year, the annual youth basketball tournament saw its most growth.
The event is hosted by The Center, the Hudson Valley Women’s Association & Friends, and, new this year, the Town of Highlands Recreation Department. There are minimal fees for young athletes to participate. Funds were raised via concessions, raffles, and a $2 entrance fee, for scholarships to be given out this spring from the HVWA&F.
The place was packed all four days of the event.
“The energy was so positive, and there were kids there to watch games even when they weren’t playing,” Tournament Director Desiree Talley said.
Recreation Director Aaron Falk estimates that there were 32 children involved in the tournament games themselves, another 20 involved in the cheerleading component, several dozen adults and high schoolers playing in games for that age group, and “at minimum” 20 volunteers who helped pull the whole tournament off.
“I love that we can not only do things for our kids, but that community residents come out and support them by volunteering and even just watching the games,” Falk said this week. “I’d guess there were at least two adults on hand for every kid during the games and cheerleading performances. There was so much enthusiasm.”
He gives full credit to Talley, who has coordinated the fun event since 2014.
“She is the fire behind it, and does the majority of the work,” he said. “It’s definitely a community effort, but she does the heavy lifting.”
A new feature of the event this year was on Saturday, March 16, when Sgt. Julio Fernandez and Staff Sgt. Windollyn Patino, civil operations specialists from the New York National Guard Counter-drug Task Force were on hand.
They were there to do “team building and prevention activities” with the children, and, in fact, spent time with every team of basketball players, the cheerleaders, and any other child who wanted to spend time with them. They played games, had National Guard gear for the children to try on, and even had goggles designed to simulate driving while impaired for older children to use as they rode around on scooters.
“They were a great addition,” Falk said, noting that the smiling soldiers appeared to enjoy their time with the children as well. The two said their role was to get to know and talk to the children, as they have done in other community locations via the Community Coalition that has been operating in town for about a year. They also spent time talking with the parents of the youth.
Also new were the adult games, and the all-star games of the town’s recreation leagues.
While it’s impossible to list everyone who helped, Talley said the following list is a pretty good representation:
In the kitchen – Denise, Tiffany, Andrea, Teresa and Nicolle Gibney, Madison and Zach Hurst, Dominick Vanzetta and Brian Aylward;
As DJ – Desirea Coyle;
Making signs- Dria King;
Refereeing – John Jackson, George Hancock and Joe Green;
Coaching – Michael Medina, Jack Aprilante, Tahiem McCormick and Janne Rowan;
Admissions – Colleen Solan and Linda Green;
Scoreboard and keeping the book – Randy Shuman and Richard Fox;
Cheerleader coaches – Hannah Pitt, Sophia Vanzetta, Riley VanPelt, Alyssa Horn and Jocelyn Shuman.
“This was definitely the best year yet,” Talley said.
Some final awards were given out at the end of the second weekend of the tournament:
Most improved – Amiyah Johnson
Sportsmanship – Riley Shuman
All Tournament – Tristin Laurore
Most Valuable Player – Lonnie Whatley
March Mania champs – The Spurs
