Basketball tournament seeks players

After the first Knockout Cancer Basketball Tournament was such a success, the Grano family of East Amherst has decided to hold a second tournament, and this time they are "stepping it up a notch."

On Sunday, March 30, in the heart of March Madness, the family will host the second Knockout Cancer Basketball Tournament to benefit the Ride for Roswell.

The first tournament was held in June 2007, the idea of Alexander Grano, 10.

The family held the first tournament in their back yard, and this year they are opening it up to the community and holding it at Clearfield Community Center at Hopkins and Klein roads.

The tournament will benefit Roswell Park Cancer Institute, for which the family raises funds annually through the Ride for Roswell. Alexander has been the top youth fundraiser for the past two years.

His father, David, is a 24-year survivor.

Games are scheduled in one-hour time slots based on grade or division.

Players can win a free week at one of the following WNY summer basketball camps: Canisius College, Niagara University, Daemen College, Medaille College, University at Buffalo, Coach Sal's, Big Red or a free registration to Amherst Youth Basketball for next season.

So players are not confused, the family noted, this is not a 3-on-3 tournament. It is an individual event where players compete against others in their division, playing games of "knockout." Games are scheduled in one-hour time slots based on grade or division.

Knockout games will be going on at all eight basketball hoops in the Clearfield main and small gyms simultaneously.

Players are randomly assigned ahead of time to a hoop number with other youths within their division. Each participant wears an assigned number.

To download a registration form, visit www.amherst-basket ball.com. Deadline is Friday, March 28.