WYBA’s Sonic Coed 3-on-3 Tournament brings communities together

By Matt Pascarella

After a few years off, Windham Youth Basketball Association’s Sonic Coed 3-on-3 Tournament returned on Saturday, Aug. 12 in Windham and with a great turnout of 16 teams from third graders to adults 40-plus who were playing in a friendly competition that brings not just players and supporters from Windham, but also surrounding towns.

Gray senior Noah Hebert makes his way to the hoop during
the eighth Sonic Coed 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament hosted
by the Windham Youth Basketball Association on Saturday,
Aug. 12 in Windham. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA  

“This tournament is for a good cause,” said Windham resident and Windham Youth Basketball Association (WYBA) coach Lily Cooper. “It’s a memorial tournament that we’ve been coming to and supporting for years. Just being able to see the kids play together coed, it’s not something they get to do very often. I love being able to see the boys and girls get together and play. It’s great for all the teams and the kids to support each other.”

The tournament was created to celebrate Windham High School basketball player Dan Giguere, who passed away in a car accident. Giguere was a coach, a teacher, a father of three sons and was very active in the community.

WYBA raised close to $1,500 from the tournament which will be split between the Youth Basketball programs and the Windham High School basketball programs.

Gray senior Noah Hebert loves basketball and said the tournament is a fun opportunity to play. For Hebert, spending time with friends, meeting new people and playing a competitive sport he likes is very positive.

“It was time to bring it back,” said WYBA president Ben Delewski. “We have these nice new courts [by the Public Safety building]. It was a great showing, beautiful weather and was a ton of fun.”

Delewski wants to build up the basketball culture in Windham, and events like this can help to start building those powerhouse teams. The Sonic 3-on-3 Coed Tournament helps because the younger kids look up to the older kids and the older kids become role models and with the adults participating everyone can learn from one another and just have a good time. It also teaches to include everyone, as girl’s baskets are worth double the points.

“This is a great cause; perfect day to be out here, seeing everybody. For me, just happy to be playing and keep moving. Everybody’s here having fun,” said Windham resident Johnathan Bassett.

According to Delewski, the tournament teaches kids how to play the right way and get good open shots, having fun and being part of a team. A lot of kids hadn’t played since the end of the winter season, so this is a good summer activity and gets the kids talking about basketball and preparing for the upcoming season.

“I really wanted to play basketball, because I haven’t played since the winter,” said Windham fourth grader Colby Sargent. This was Sargent’s first year playing in the tournament. “It’s really fun because you’re just getting out and playing for fun. It raises money and it’s really good for people to get out and just play.”

Windham graduate and resident Nick Curtis used to play in the tournament as a kid and said it was a lot of fun to play in it now. Curtis said it brings everyone together and supports the basketball programs in a friendly environment.

Windham resident and parent Angela Wyman said the tournament is about team building and community building. She likes that other communities are part of it. Her boys have been playing basketball since they were little and look forward to it every time. It keeps kids involved and brings families and communities together while supporting the basketball programs.

“I’m really pleased with how many people showed up and all the smiles,” said Delewski. <