Knockout Basketball Tournament deemed a success, raises $3,000

Canisius College basketball players congratulate Colin Downing on his winning three point shot during the Knockout Basketball Tournament held June 2. Pictured from left to right are: Frank Turner, Papi a'Nyam, Jovan Robinson, and Shaun James.

Small ideas can become big realities as was the case on June 2.

The idea of Alexander Grano, 9, to have a small basketball event on his backyard court to help raise money to fight cancer turned into a large tournament with many sponsors, almost 100 participants, prizes and an "awesome" showing of support from the community and area college basketball teams.

The Grano family raised almost $3,000 to benefit the Ride For Roswell through the Knockout Basketball Tournament. While having a great time, lessons were taught to the youths who attended, Alexander's mother, Jackie, said.

"One of the moms of a boy in the tournament came up to me at work to say 'thank you' for the impact the tournament has had on her son. She said his older sister had done some things for children's hospital in the past, but her son was never really part of anything," Jackie said. "Since the tourney, he has been showing his friends his wristband and telling them how he helped to knock out cancer."

She added that the boy wanted to write something in his elementary school paper about the tournament.

"That is all the motivation we need to make this an annual event. That was the whole point of the tournament, to make an impact on the kids. ... From this mom's unsolicited testimonial, it was a success," she said.

There were 12 game winners who each won a free week to either Happyland Day Camp, Canisius, Daemen, Medaille, Niagara, Park, UB or Sal's Summer basketball camps. Twelve runner-ups each got a SnapSports basketball. and 12 more "second-chance" winners walked away with either $50 gift certificates from Dick's Sporting Goods, UB and Canisius basketballs or athletic bags and other sports equipment donated from SnapSports and the NCAA.

During the event, players from Canisius, Niagara, and UB volunteered their time, shooting baskets with the youths and signing autographs.

A highlight was when Tom Parrotta, men's basketball head coach from Canisius, spontaneously announced that he would give a free week to Canisius Basketball Camp, a $200 value, to anyone at the event who could sink one three-point shot. After a long line of shooters, Colin Downing and Christian Curatolo came up victorious.

"A big thank you from the Grano family goes out to everyone connected to the event. See you next year," Jackie said.