Windham Youth Basketball’s Three-on-Three Tournament a community victory by Matt Pascarella

Andrew Tulman (R) guards Caleb Sayward (L)

The sixth annual Sonic Coed Three-on-Three Basketball Tournament was held Sunday, July 15 at the Manchester School basketball courts.

Organizer Pat Moody, along with the Windham Youth Basketball volunteers, created the Sonic Coed Three-on-Three Tournament in 2012 to honor Danny “Sonic” Giguere, who graduated from Windham High School in 1998 and was killed in a car accident in 2012. 

Giguere was nicknamed ‘Sonic’ because of his tenacity and how hard he played on the court (like Sonic the hedgehog).

Derek Lovely

In the past, the proceeds from this event have been given to Giguere’s family and the Windham Primary School playground fund. It’s also been used to purchase new basketball equipment and basketball infrastructure in the town and playgrounds at the Windham Primary School, the Manchester School and Windham High School.

This year the funds will be used to help renovate the town skate park, located near the police station in Windham.

Mason Rulman

Moody explains that over the last several years there have been 20-30 teams registered each year. Ages range from third and fourth graders to create a 40+ team. It’s not just Windham teams that come to play, the word has spread about the tournament and teams from outside communities are showing up as well. While the tournament does have a competitive aspect, it’s more about fun and community than winning.

“It’s not just about the teams that come, but about everyone who comes to support those teams,” noted Moody. “When you look around and see the place filled with people, it’s awesome.”

Moody also explained that Giguere’s motto was ‘make it happen’ and that’s exactly what Moody and his volunteers have done; it was a day of fun, community and great basketball.

It was a true community victory.