The Hall way again

Catty grads help Catty Corner win 30th title

If tournament founder and director Eric Snyder ever decided to honor a 30th anniversary team for the Tournament of Champions, Derek Hall would likely be one of his first selections.

Hall, a Northampton High and Albright College graduate who has carved out an impressive professional career overseas, won his third TOC MVP award Thursday when the 30th tournament came to a close at the Catty Playground.

Catty Corner, the playoff champions from the Catty Adult League, defeated DLH of the Allentown YMCA League 53-47 in an entertaining, competitive championship game in the 11team tournament that brings together the summer’s top adult teams and players.

Hall scored 21 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and dished out seven assists as the team he played on won the tournament for the fourth straight year and the sixth time in seven years.

“It’s always fun to come back and get to play with my brother Phil and all of my friends who I’ve been playing with for about the last 10 years,” the 7-foot Hall said. “A lot of them don’t play anymore besides this where as I still get to play basketball all year.”

Hall has scored over 1,000 points in the last two years in the National Basketball League of Canada and his team made the league finals before losing in six games before losing to St. John’s Edge featuring Glen “Big Baby” Davis, a former LSU star and NBA player.

“That was an experience,” Hall said. “I’m not sure where I’m playing next year. I have some offers from Uruguay, Japan and Dominican Republic. It’s a matter of figuring what’s best for me.” these guys and they were unbelievable,” he said. “The TOC is great because you play against the best of the best of the Lehigh Valley. It’s so much fun and to win it is unbelievable.”

Parker and Brinkley both hope the TOC keeps going for many years to come.

“A lot of young kids have got to start playing and creating their own teams because some of these guys are getting a little older,” Parker said.

“We’re hoping to get to that 35-and-over league,” Brinkley said.