New 3-on-3 B-Ball Tourney Format Nets Great Results
Playing the Harp Also Boost Fun and Funds

This marks the third successful year that hoop play has netted great enjoyment and much-appreciated funds for The Rory David Deutsch Foundation. The event, held September 29th and 30th, featured an exciting three-point shootout, a free throw contest and a new 3-on-3 tournament. This combination of basketball competition scored in boosting participation this year. A total of $32,494 was put on the Foundation's scoreboard for use in pediatric brain tumor research.

"Kids and adults who participated had a fantastic time," said tournament director, Alan Samsky, "and so did the over 500 enthusiastic fans in the stands who showed up to support their favorite players and our important cause." Samsky also noted that the entire event received a big boost this year because of the new 3-on-3 tournament. This format was suggested by Vern Reich, tournament co-director.

"I wanted to try something new," said Vern."I thought if we switched from local team play of previous years to 3-on-3, we'd get more kids involved in the tournament and get the message of the Foundation out to more people. And it worked! We definitely raised the number of players in 2001. With this as a learning experience, we expect to do even better in the future."

What was so magical about the 3-on-3 format? "It's 'Pool Play'", explained Vern, "which guaranteed each participant the chance to play in a minimum of three games leading into championships on Sunday afternoon among pool play winners. We also had separate divisions for boys, girls, and adults to ensure a fair match-up of age and skill levels."

Fairness was also a highlight of the Free Throw Toss. For a $2 donation, participants got a chance to see how many consecutive free throws they could make from the charity stripe. Kids could enter as often as they wished. Once they missed, that was the ball game for that attempt. For a $3 donation, kids, women, and men could match their skills against other contestants in the famous Three-Point Shootout. Shooters had 45 pressure-packed seconds to fire away from three designated spots on the three-point arc. With the clock ticking down, it was very exciting!

The Harp Plays On

Former Chicago Bull's star, Ron Harper was also in on the fund-raising action. Everyone in attendance had the good fortune to see him play as he did for the Chicago Bulls championship team. The famous hoopster was gracious enough to step up to the line to make Saturday night even more special. Ron ran a "Play the Harp" event. Contributors had the opportunity to play him in a game of "Pig" or "one-on-one." As might be expected, Ron had eager challengers lined out the door.

On to next year...!

Great thanks to Mike Weinstein and Scott Lidskin! A special high five to Jack Lorenz, Principal of Highland Park High School, for hosting the event. Finally, we especially thank Dan Powers, director of 24/7 Basketball Training, for supporting the weekend tournament. He furnished a majority of the participating teams, and secured all the court monitors to assure smooth play.