Hoops players get a helping hand
Tribune Boys Basketball Tournament has awarded nearly $98,000 in scholarships since 1970
“There was always a buzz in the air about getting to that tournament as a kid sneaking into the tournament if you could.” DON LARMAN
TRIBUNE BOYS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT CO-CONVENER
Had this been a normal year, the kind in which masks are worn primarily by goaltenders in hockey or celebrity contestants on Fox TV shows, results from the championship doubleheader at the 66th Tribune Boys Basketball Tournament would have filled the main sports page in the print edition of today’s newspaper.
Besides separate stories on the A and B finals at one of Ontario’s oldest high school tournaments, there also would be fact boxes listing scoring stats from Saturday night’s action, as well as one highlighting award winner and all-star team selections.
Since giving back to the community — especially, basketball in Niagara — is a cornerstone of the Tribune Tournament, something important that took place off the court also would have been in the sports spotlight.
Each year, the presentation of scholarships to graduating players from the previous year’s tournament is among the highlights of the program on the final night of competition.
“Today (Saturday) is usually a very exciting day for Niagara basketball,” said Don Larman, co-convener of the tournament for the past 16 years and a Welland native who played in four Tribune tournaments before graduating from the former Welland High in 1973.
Turns out, this year was no different.
Instead of postponing the presentation of 2020 scholarships until the next tournament, the all-volunteer committee that oversees the competition opted to recognize the recipients in what would have been “tournament week.”
“We normally hand out the scholarships after their first semester. We wanted to recognize these student-athletes and also give them the scholarship money that they have been awarded,” Larman said.
Scholarships totalling $97,800, including $4,100 last year, have been awarded every year except one since 1970. Proceeds from admission, advertising, program sales and sponsorships fund the scholarships.
“Our community support is tremendous. Our title sponsor, Mountainview Building Group, has shown great support for our tournament,” Larman said. “Their financial contributions continue to allow us to provide financial support for studentathletes to pursue post-secondary education.”
Working with youth in the community is a commitment Mountainview takes “seriously.”
“We know that physical activity and wellness go hand-inhand,” Mark Basciano, president of the Thorold-based company, said. “We hope to be able to come out and cheer on everyone in person next year.”
All student-athletes from the Welland Tribune distribution area — Welland, Port Colborne, Pelham, Wainfleet — who competed in at least two tournaments and have been accepted at any post-secondary institution in Canada or the United States are eligible to apply for the scholarship.
The number of scholarships awarded annually depends on how many applications the committee receives. Applications are usually reviewed in April.
This year, seven players received $500 scholarships, all but two who saw action in E.L. Crossley’s 65-55 victory over Notre Dame in a championship final decided at Niagara College in Welland.
Aiden Belding and Jason Carter from the gold-medallist Cyclone each received a scholarship, while Shammar Campbell, David Jones and Andrew Zezela were the recipients from the Fighting Irish who were the defending champions coming into the 2020 final. Samuel Beifuss from Lakeshore Catholic and Nick Yioldassis, Welland Centennial, also received scholarships.
Michael Conlon, a graduate of Denis Morris in St. Catharines, was awarded the Mike Mitruk Bursary worth $300.
The first Bob Tomiuk Sixth Man Bursary, also worth $300, has yet to be awarded. It honours the memory of Bob Tomiuck, a longtime Tribune Tournament committee member who died of a heart attack at age 70 in December 2019.
Belding is studying chemical engineering at University of Waterloo, and Carter is enrolled in the environmental geoscience program at Brock University.
Also staying close to home are Beifuss, Brock, concurrent education; Campbell, Niagara College, business administration; Yioldassis, Niagara College, fitness and health promotion; and Zezela, Brock, international business, dual degree.
Conlon is pursuing a commerce degree at Queen’s University in Kingston.
Jones said he expects to decide on where he will be continuing his education shortly.
The first scholarships were worth $25 each. They were increased to $500 from $400 in 2009.
A Tribune Tournament week without any action on the court felt “very weird” to Larman.
“I grew up in Welland. The Tribune Tournament that I was always actively either watching or participating in when I was playing basketball,” the 68year-old said. “There was always a buzz in the air about getting to that tournament as a kid sneaking into the tournament if you could.
“It’s disappointing not to have the tournament. However, looking back and having all the memories of previous tournaments, that’s a consolation.”
Nonetheless, having a tournament this year would have been “fantastic.”
“Year after year, at every tournament, there are magical moments that are made and remembered by players, coaches, spectators and our organizing committee,” Larman said. “This year would have been no different.”