Fourth annual basketball tournament features region’s first responders, and public safety officials
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame today announced teams for the 4th annual ‘Hoops & Heroes’ tournament to open the 2013 Enshrinement Celebration. The two-day tournament, featuring Hampden County Sheriff Michael J. Ashe, Jr. as the Honorary Chair, will be held August 24-25 and feature 16 teams of first responders from throughout the region. The games begin at Springfield College on Saturday and the “final four” teams will progress to the Championship round to be played at the Hall of Fame’s Jerry Colangelo Court of Dreams Sunday morning. In addition to the two semifinals and championship game, activities also include an exhibition basketball game by Special Olympic Athletes. The proceeds from the games and related activities benefit the Special Olympics of Massachusetts. Fans are encouraged to come out to support the event.
Sponsors of the 4th annual Hoops & Heroes event include Platinum Sponsors: Smith & Wesson and Enterprise Holdings Foundation, while Supporting Sponsors include Olympus Pictures – Thanks For Sharing (in Theaters September 20), Northern Tree Service, Pelican Products, Senergy and the Hamdpen County Sheriff’s Department.
This year’s Hoops & Heroes Tournament features teams from all over New England and New York including Albany, Chelsea and New York City Police Departments, the Massachusetts and Connecticut State Police, Connecticut Fire Department, Berkshire, Hampden and Suffolk County Sheriff Departments, Connecticut Judicial Marshall Services, Hampden County’s Labrie, Pouliot, Larocque & Guiel, P.C., plus New Haven and York Corrections. The championship team will be provided with VIP tickets to the 2013 Enshrinement Ceremony and be recognized and honored during the evening’s events.
This year’s Enshrinement Ceremony will take place at Springfield’s Symphony Hall on Sunday, September 8th at 2:00 pm ET. Over 50 Hall of Famers are once again expected to attend this year’s ceremony to honor the Class of 2013, which includes nine-time NBA All-Star Gary Payton; seven-time NCAA Final Four coach Rick Pitino; four-time NCAA Final Four coach Jerry Tarkanian; five-time WNBA All-Star Dawn Staley; five-time NCAA Final Four coach Guy Lewis; four-time NBA All-Star Bernard King; three-time National Coach of the Year Sylvia Hatchell; ABA legend Roger Brown; early African-American pioneer Dr. E.B. Henderson; Brazilian scoring machine Oscar Schmidt; six-time NBA All-Star Richard Guerin and former President of USA Basketball and NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik.
For more information on Enshrinement Tickets, please call the Basketball Hall of Fame’s Ticket Office at (413) 231-5540. Tickets are available for as low as $49. Each ticket price includes a tax-deductible donation to benefit the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Game Schedule:
Saturday, August 24 (Springfield College Field House)
10:00 AM
CT. Judicial Marshall Services vs. Hampden County Sheriff’s All-Stars
Mass State Police #2 vs. New York City Police Department
Chelsea Police Department vs. Hampden County Sheriff’s Blue
New Haven Community Correction vs. York Correctional
11:15 AM
Albany Police Department vs. Labrie, Pouliot, Larocque
Mass State Police #1 vs. Connecticut Fire Dept.
Connecticut State Police vs. Hampden County Sheriff’s DYS/United
Suffolk County Sheriff vs. Berkshire Sheriff's Department
12:30 PM
CT. Judicial Marshall Services vs. New York City Police Department
Hampden County Sheriff’s All-Stars vs. Mass State Police #2
Chelsea Police Department vs. York Correctional
Hampden County Sheriff’s Blue vs. New Haven Community Correction
1:45 PM
Albany Police Department vs. Mass State Police #1
Labrie, Pouliot, Larocque vs. Connecticut Fire Dept.
Connecticut State Police vs. Suffolk County Sheriff
Hampden County Sheriff’s DYS/United vs. Berkshire Sheriff's Department
3:00 PM
CT. Judicial Marshall Services vs. Mass State Police #2
Hampden County Sheriff’s All-Stars vs. New York City Police Department
Chelsea Police Department vs. New Haven Community Correction
Hampden County Sheriff’s Blue vs. York Correctional
4:15 PM
Albany Police Department vs. Connecticut Fire Dept.
Mass State Police #1 vs. Labrie, Pouliot, Larocque
Connecticut State Police vs. Berkshire Sheriff's Department
Hampden County Sheriff’s DYS/United vs. Suffolk County Sheriff
Sunday, August 25 (Basketball Hall of Fame Center Court)
10:00 AM - SEMIFINAL #1 - Winner of Pool A vs. Winner of Pool B
11:15 AM - SEMIFINAL #2 - Winner of Pool C vs. Winner of Pool D
12:30 PM - SPECIAL OLYMPICS EXHIBITION GAME
1:00 PM - CHAMPIONSHIP GAME - Winner of Semifinal #1 vs. Winner of Semifinal #2
2:00 PM - 2013 HOOPS & HEROES TOURNAMENT TROPHY PRESENTATION