Hoops Madness brought kids together for a day of three-on-three basketball. (Photo by Janet Gala)

by Sue Ann Rybak

All it took was one step inside the Woodward Gym or Kingsley Gym at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy to know that this year's 6th Annual Hoops Madness Tournament was a slam dunk.

Attendees were greeted by the rhythmic sounds of basketballs pounding the court, the squeaking of basketball shoes against the polished maple floor, the swish of the ball as it went through the net, the shrill of the referee’s whistle, and the cheers of family, friends and community members watching in the bleachers.

“It's a high energy, family-friendly community event,” said Brien Tilley, the tournament chairman. “We try to give the kids the framework and structure and let them run with it. They are there to have fun and they embrace it. I think we achieved all the things we set out to do when we first started the event six years ago.”

He said while there are a lot of great fundraising events sponsored by the Chestnut Hill Community Association, he and Matt Paul were trying to find a fundraising event that would get kids and parents involved together.

“One of the great things about the event is that it gives kids the opportunity to meet youth from other school districts and neighborhoods,” said Tilley, a Chestnut Hill resident.

He said that every year the event continues to grow.

“The reality is the event can be as big as we want it to be,” he said. “However, it’s clear that moving forward we cannot host the event without three gyms. From here on, it's going to be a combination of three gyms. We learned where we can improve and will take that information and make it even better next year. We want to thank all our participants, families, kids and adults who came out to this year’s fundraiser.”

Tilley, who is the father of three children, also thanked Mike West and the Chestnut Hill Women’s Basketball Team for refereeing games at the tournament and Matt Paul for his “level of sponsorship and dedication to the community.”

Anne McNiff, executive director of the Chestnut Hill Community Association, said this year's event raised more than $4,000 just in registrations, not including funds raised from concession stands.

“It was great seeing over 250 kids and adults playing basketball and cheering for each other – community at its best,” she said. “A big thank-you to all of our sponsors who helped make this event a great success: Hoops Madness' main sponsor Bowman Properties; tournament partner Matt Paul Sports; tournament sponsors Temple Orthopedics Surgery & Sports Medicine at Chestnut Hill Hospital; event sponsors The Goldenberg Group, Fitlife, Elfant Wissahickon Realtors – Janice Manzi and Louise D’Alessandro; hoop sponsors Blake Development Group, Top of the Hill Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry, Wm. A. Kilian Hardware Co., McNally’s, Univest, Chestnut Hill Hospital; in kind sponsors Chestnut Hill Sports, Cosimo’s Pizza Café, Inspyr Gear and Kind Bars.

Chestnut Hill native John Cawley, CEO of Inspyr, one of the event's sponsors, gave out a free pair of Inspryr socks to this year's winners. When asked why he continues to sponsor the event, Cawley replied, “The Inspyr brand is about making a difference in people’s lives. Sports and fitness build confidence and a community bond. Inspyr is a family that supports communities.”

This year’s winners are listed below:

Pink Team

Kylie Ruiz

Sienna Ruiz

Maura McDermott

Addison Dougherty

Green Team

Meredith Tilley

Emma Assef

Elise Guller

Shelby Stefan

Dark Blue Kindergarten through 1st grade

Luke Melchionni

Gavin Mclane

Charlie Kelly

Black Team- 2nd and 3rd grade (wearing homemade shirts)

Peter Turchi

Cole Reilly

Ryan Harrington

Gavin Amici

Orange Team 5th Grade

Sophia Gartland

Rosalie Montemayor

Harper Reilly

Olivia Reilly

Marissa Perez

Orange Team 7th Grade

Che Ewell

Jaden Palmer-Waldon

Sizwe Morris-Louis

Marley Ewell

10th grade

Zaire China

Alvan Brown

Zhymere Warren