Shoot Hoops, Win A Car At Giorno & Harmon Tournament

The 8th Annual Giorno & Harmon Memorial 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament will be held on Saturday, November 20, at the Newtown Youth Academy. The tournament has been held in honor of John Giorno, a good friend of Newtown basketball, who succumbed to cancer in 2002 and Kim Harmon, former sports editor at the Newtown Bee, whom we lost to heart disease in December of 2007. Now the tournament will also honor youth football and lacrosse coach Chris Stenz and swimming coach Glenn Atkinson, both of whom passed away this fall.

This event is hosted by the Newtown Youth Academy. Tournament competition is by age groups for both males and females. Age groups range from third grade through high school to adults. The format will be double elimination, so every team plays at least two games. Trophies are awarded for first- and second-place in each division. Each team should register four players. New this year is an Open Division for travel players. Register day of the tournament or on the NYBA website: http://www.newtownyouthbasketball.org.

Newtown resident and youth soccer and basketball coach Landon Sock, who owns Kia of Old Saybrook, will hold a $20 raffle for an opportunity to win a 2011 Kia Soul. All of the raffle money benefits the families of the men for whom the tournament honors. Sock said participants may purchase a ticket beginning at 8 am and that each ticket holder will have a chance to win a car by making a layup, free throw, 3-point shot, and half court shot in 30 seconds. Opportunities to win the car will be held at noon and again at 3 pm. Sock said that he has been friends with the Quinn family members for 12 years and that all three of his children participate in the tourney. Sock became involved with the tournament, he said, after witnessing tournament organizer John Quinn’s volunteer efforts, along with sportsmanship at games, including cheering on opposing teams for making nice plays, he said.

All players receive a commemorative T Shirt. Fees are on a per team basis. Gather three friends, and join the fun.