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3-0n-3 hoop tourney a blast

Second annual event draws 52 players from Qualicum Beach to Lady Smith
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49ers player Eric Gueldenstern from Ladysmith lays it up against Dimes from Nanaimo in the junior final of the 3-on-3 tournament at the Coombs Fairgrounds gym on Tuesday. — Michael Briones photo

The second annual 3-on-3 Youth Basketball Tournament attracted teams from Qualicum Beach to Ladysmith.

The event, hosted by the Arrowsmith Community Recreation Association (ACRA), was part of B.C. Youth Week.

It was held at the Coombs Fairground Activity Building Gym and it featured 52 young players. There were four seniors teams aged 16 to 18 years old, and ten junior teams of players 13 to 15 years old.

“Having 52 youth come together, for some fast and friendly basketball play, was a great way for ACRA to share in the RDN’s Youth Week celebration,” said Kim Longmuir, Arrowsmith Recreation Coordinator. “The gym was alive with the sounds of basketball swishes and cheering. There was lots of sweat and determination. We were pleasantly surprised by the number of parents and friends who came out to encourage the teams.”

There was one girls team from Ballenas Secondary consisting of junior players Isabella Loberiza, Libby Elliott and Avi Franklin, who held their own against the boys teams. International students from both Ballenas and Kwalikum secondary schools had a blast.

The competition was mostly fun and friendly although there were times when things got a little too intense and serious. There were matches that went the distance and had to be settled via a sudden-death tiebreaker.

In the seniors division, Hi, consisting of Ethan Christensen, Anthony Crowther and Kaito Akiyam, swept the opposition to win the title. They easily beat UCIA in the final 12-3.

In the junior division, the final featured two out of town teams, Dimes from Nanaimo and 49ers from Ladysmith.

Dimes built up a good lead, nailing some good shots from three-point land. They appeared to be in cruise control until 49ers clawed their way back with Eric Gueldenstern leading the rally to keep his team just a point behind at 11-10 with seconds left. Dimes managed to hold on, scoring a late basket to win 12-10 to take home the title.The Dimes players are Johnson Dinh, Kyle Ferguson, Noah Pasloske and Brennan Moody.

“An event like this is only made possible by the generous support from volunteers and local businesses,” said Kim. “Enthusiastic ACRA volunteer basketball facilitators, Michael Briones and Johnny Mendoza, along with their friends and RDN Leaders in Training youth had the gym and refreshments organized and running smoothly.”

The ACRA would also like to send out big basketball bouquets to the RDN for their youth grant funding, The Old Country Market for providing the water and delicious cookies, Dominos for subsidizing the pizza cost, Starbucks, McDonalds, Tim Hortons, Paradise Mini-Golf and the RDN for their kind prize donations, Ballenas Secondary for lending scorekeeping charts, and Arrowsmith Agricultural Association who always support youth programs in the community.

“ I would like to say that next year will be even better, but last night will be hard to beat,” said Longmuir.