4th ANNUAL ST. MATTHEW BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT A HUGE SUCCESS

The St. Matthew Christmas Tournament is becoming one of the top Christmas basketball tournaments in the area. With the hard work of Robert and Angie Pollack and their entire family and a large group of friends, this event adds to its reputation each year.   The 2008 event raised $6,316.00 over the course of three days and 43 games between teams from 4th-8th grades.

The following teams and players earned special recognition with their efforts.

Tournament Champions included; St. Gabriel Mcardle (4th grade boys), St. Gabriel Connery (5th Grade Boys), Providence Day (6th Grade Girls), St. Matthew Corcoran (7th/8th Grade Girls) and St. Matthew Balbirnie (8th Grade Boys.)

A special slate of exhibition games were held for area club teams.  Highlights from those games included; The Charlotte Mustangs 5th Grade Boys Team going undefeated, The Providence Day 7th/8th Grade Girls winning 2 games, The 7th Grade Mustangs going 2-0 and Carolina Rise winning all three games in the 8th grade division.  The South Charlotte Pirates topped Providence Day in their first game of the season as well.

 The following players were chosen for the All Tournament Team in their various divisions:

Middle School girls: Annie Brannon 6.0 pts/game, Hannah Hatton 7.5 pts/game, Morgan Mosack 10.0 pts/game, Tenesha Scott 11.0 pts/game, Stephanie Watts 7.5 pts/game and Emily Winn 16.5 pts/game.
 
In the Elementary School Boys Club Level, the All-Tournament Team included: Brett Swilling, Jaylon McGill,  Jack King, Josh Brodowicz and Scott Peterson.
 
In the Elementary School Boys Rec Level the All-Tournament Team included: Andrew Brouse, Brady Berger, Keegan Pagani, Rielly Norman, Jack Ballard and Penn Conrad.

In the 8th grade boys rec level the All-Tournament Team included: Trent King 16.6 pts/game, Drew Connery 16.0 pts/game, Jo Jo Humann 15.0 pts/game, Marcus Wise 14.5 pts/game, Trey Kendrick 14.0 pts/game and Dylan Wright 13.0 pts/game.

In the 8th grade boys club level the All-Tournament Team included:  Ben Bjork 16.4 pts/game, Mark Pollack 16.0 pts/game, Byron Fields 16.0 pts/game, Stephen SantaAnna 14.5 pts/game, Ethan VanDeVelde 13.3 pts/game and Preston Trout 12.3 pts/game.
 
Contest winners for the Elementary School Division were; Free Throw Champion-Brady Berger and Runner Up-Jack Sleeper. Three Point Champion; Brooks King and runner up Brady Berger.

In the Middle School Division Adam Kozoil won the free throw contest with Ben Bjork coming in second.   Ives Harkins won the three point contest with Mark Pollack coming in second.