The Haines Community Youth Development program will host its annual Triple Threat Basketball Tournament this weekend at Haines School.
Two recreational sports leagues from Juneau and one from Angoon are expected to bring approximately 100 student-athletes in grades 4-8 to play in boys’ and girls’ divisions. About 40 Haines students in the same grades will compete.
The annual tournament is the only local basketball tournament for elementary and middle school students. Lori Giddings, longtime CYD coach and tournament organizer, said, “This is very special for us because it’s the only opportunity many of our parents have to see their kids play.”
Carie Crager has a son and daughter in the CYD program and a daughter playing varsity hoops for the Glacier Bears. “It’s a lot of fun and they grow as a team over the years, and they just have a blast.”
Kyle Fossman, in his second year as boys’ coach, sees benefits of the CYD program extending beyond the court.
“It’s not just a sports thing,” Fossman said. “It teaches how to be respectful and work as a team. It also teaches kids how to be responsible and held accountable because they have teammates who are relying on them.”
Fossman said his long-term hope is to see players develop in a way that will make them comfortable and confident to play at a high school level.
The Triple Threat tournament begins 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3 with games in the Karl Ward Gym and elementary gym. Teams from grades 5-8 will play at least four games. The weekend also will feature two, fourth-grade girls’ exhibition games, Haines vs. Angoon.
Concessions will be sold. Volunteer officials and scorekeepers are still needed. Call Al Giddings at 314-3094 to help.