The Mack Lyon Middle School Boys and Girls basketball programs will be holding their first annual Blackshirt Basketball Tournament on Saturday, December 26, at the Moapa Valley High School.
The tournament will bring a number of events together including a 3-on-3 team tournament, a 3-point shoot out contest and a Slam Dunk Competition that just about any basketball aficionado can handle.
Logandale resident Brent Thompson was recently named coach for both boys and girls basketball programs at Mack Lyon. The Blackshirt Basketball tournament was his idea for a fundraiser to kick off the new season.
“We decided to do it the day after Christmas because that is when families are still together for the holidays,” Thompson said. “We wanted it to be a family event and hope that families will form up their own teams. We wanted to create an event where people could get together for some healthy and relaxing fun in the day after they have just eaten their big holiday meals.”
There will be something for every level of basketball player at the event. In the 3-on-3 division there will be two main divisions. The open competitive will be for serious players who really want to compete, Thompson explained. In the competitive division there will be men, women and co-ed teams.
The second division, the open non-competitive division, will be for teams who just want to get together and have fun, Thompson said.
“This will be for family and friends who want to support the middle school team and have a good time playing some ball,” he added. “It should be a lot of fun!”
A slam dunk competition will give participants a little leg up. It does that by lowering the basket just a bit. For athletes who are 6 ft tall and less the rim will be lowered to 8.5 feet. Players over 6 feet high will be dunking with a 9 foot high rim.
Each competitors will have 90 seconds to complete three dunks and will be rated on a scale of 1-10 on each dunk they complete.
Finally, in the 3-point Shoot Out competition, there will be three age divisions: 14 and under, 15-18, and 19 and up. Each contestant will shoot from five specified spots around the high school 3-point line. There are given 5 balls per shot and will be given points on how many shots they make.
Prizes will be given out to the winners of each competition. Prizes include hotel stays, gift cards to area restaurants, basketball equipment and more. Every entrant receives a goodie bag and a T-shirt for their participation.
“We felt like this would be a great way to fundraise for the teams,” Thompson said. “Better maybe than just going out and asking businesses and parents for donations.”
Those wishing to participate can register online at blackshirtbasketba.wix.com/blackshirt. Registration can also be done at the Clark County Parks and Rec office at the Logandale Fairgrounds.
Discounted rates are offered for early registration if participants register before December 13. See the event website for more details.
All funds raised go to help the Mack Lyon Middle School basketball programs with transportation, tournament entry fees and equipment costs.
