MarketPlace crowns champs in 17 divisions
By MIKE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
Seventeen teams walked away with championship plaques Sunday at the CenterPoint Marketplace 3-on-3 Tournament.
The weekend tournament, which was the fourth annual event, consisted of 176 teams and 696 players across 17 divisions. Those numbers are up from a year ago, where 174 teams participated.
"We had more sponsors, more players, so it seemed to be our most successful year," said Angela Micucci, co-tournament director.
Word of the tournament is spreading across the state, bringing teams from Madison, Milwaukee, Tomahawk and Neillsville. There were actually more teams entered from outside the Stevens Point area than local teams, Micucci said.
Former and current University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point players combined to take the Male Top Dawg Division. Team VanderVelden was comprised of Brant Bailey, Boomer Olatunji and former members Brock VanderVelden and Graham Diemer.
Stevens Point Area Senior High School's basketball programs were well represented. Casey Taggatz, Nick Bennett, Josh Hall and Ross Adamczak from the 1998-99 Panthers team combined to win the Male 17-18 division as Hoops 4. And two teams from the SPASH girls program squared off for the Female 15-16 title (see "Gazette Game of the Week").
After temperatures reached 98 degrees Friday, Mother Nature was kind on Saturday and Sunday with low humidity and a slight breeze.
"The weather really cooperated. It was comfortable," said Joe Zuiker, tournament co-director.
The weather did throw tournament organizers a curveball before the event even started. High winds Friday night knocked over seven basketball hoops, damaging six, Micucci said.
"So we were up at five in the morning with two-by-fours and medal pieces trying to fix everything," she said.
The early morning repairs definitely weren't something co-directors Joe Zuiker and Micucci expected. The two were in their first year of heading the tourney.
"To take something on like that you have to expect some challenges along the way. We both enjoyed it so much," Micucci said. "We're already planning for next year."