Basketball Fun For All At Annual Tourney

By Andy Hutchison

The 8th Annual Giorno & Harmon Memorial 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament drew basketball-playing and good-hearted community members of all ages together at Newtown Youth Academy throughout the day on November 20.

Youth basketball players got to have fun, while parents watched and volunteered. High School students also gave their time for this tourney, held in honor of John Giorno, former Newtown Bee Sports Editor Kim Harmon, and now Chris Stenz and Glenn Atkinson — all of whom played a variety of integral roles in the Newtown athletics throughout the years before passing away. Funds from the tourney go to their family members, and there was plenty of support at this year’s tourney once again.

“This is a great town — people get it. The friends and families, of all the four families in need, have just all stepped up,” John Quinn, the tourney’s chairman said as young boys and girls competed in games on the courts throughout the complex.

“The most gratifying thing about this is — just looking around, seeing all the kids just having a great time.”

In addition to the 3 on 3 games, a contest to try to win a car was held. Nobody managed to make the layup, foul shot, 3-pointer, and half court shot all in 30 seconds, but the $20 raffle tickets went to a good cause. There were sprinting and jumping activities for the young attendees as well.

Among those volunteering time at the event was Andrew Chimileski, who went to school with one of Giorno’s children. Chimileski said the event was a nice way to honor Giorno, who was a longtime supporter of Newtown Youth Basketball.

This tourney was initially held only in honor of Giorno, who succumbed to cancer in 2002. Harmon’s name was added in 2007 when he was lost to heat disease. Stenz, a football and lacrosse coach, and Atkinson, a swimming coach, were added this fall when Stenz lost his battle with leukemia and Atkinson died suddenly this fall.

“I’m impressed by the turnout. It’s a great cause,” said Mark Kuligowski, standing with his daughter Mikayla while watching his son Jack play ball with his friends. “It’s a pleasure to be here knowing it’s going to a good cause. And it’s good to see a lot of people we know from town.

“It’s just a great day for some great people,” Quinn added.

Winning raffle ticket number information will be printed in next week’s edition of The Bee.