COAL TOWNSHIP - A schedule of games for the 10th annual Salvation Army Adult Benefit Basketball Tournament scheduled for this weekend was announced during a meeting of the Salvation Army Advisory Board Thursday at the army headquarters. 1300 W. Spruce St.
A record number of 15 teams will participate in the three-day event starting Friday at Shamokin Area Junior-Senior High School gymnasium and continuing through Sunday afternoon. Because of the large number of participating teams, games will also be played at the Shamokin Area annex gym on Saturday.
Chris Venna, Shamokin Area Junior-Senior High School principal, and Brian Persing, Shamokin Area School Board president, both members of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, said there will be teams competing from Shamokin, Coal Township, Mount Carmel, Paxinos, Lebanon, Elysburg, Girardville, Line Mountain and Pottsville.
Five games will be played Friday at the high school gym starting at 5 p.m. and continuing through 9 p.m., 13 games Saturday beginning at 8 a.m. and continuing through 8 p.m. and Sunday starting at 8 a.m. through 11 a.m. with another game at noon, if necessary. Saturday's games at the annex gym will begin at 8 a.m. with seven games continuing through 3 p.m.
Friday's schedule will feature Kodack's Plumbing and Heating vs. Moore's Renovations, 5 p.m.; Zalar's Roofing against Central Penn Physical Therapy, 6 p.m.; Klebon's Insurance and Tenacious D at 7 p.m., James Pizza and Gun Town, Girardville, at 8 p.m. and Carsto's versus McFarland's, Pottsville, 9 p.m.
Parkansky's, Mount Carmel, and the Outsiders (Line Mountain) tangle Saturday at 8 a.m. at the high school and E. Mortgage Management, Lebanon, plays Permanent Solutions Saturday at 8 a.m. at the annex gym. Tire Ranch, Elysburg, opens Saturday at 9 a.m. at the high school against the winner of Kodack's-Moore's.
Venna said efforts to add a women's division to the tourney were not successful due to lack of teams. Venna said several groups showed an interest, but there were not enough teams for a competitive bracket. The co-chairman said efforts to add a women' division will be made again next year.
Persing said a refreshment stand will be available throughout the weekend. Any individual, business, organization or club wishing to assist the army by donating items for the concession stand may take donations during business hours to the Salvation Army headquarters no later than Friday, or contact Venna at 205-1144 or Persing for more information.
Venna said the tourney will operate in the same manner as in previous years with a double-elimination format. Teams with one loss will still be able to make the finals. The top two teams from the previous year's tournament were automatically placed on opposite sides of the bracket.
Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) officials will work all games on a volunteer basis. PIAA rules will be followed unless specifically noted. Dwayne Scicchitano is tourney assignor of officials.
Games will consist of two 10-minute halves. The clock will run continuously except for the last two minutes of each half, or if the score differential is greater than 20 points.
Any player or spectator receiving an unsportsmanlike technical foul will be required to leave the premises and will not be able to return or play for the remainder of the tournament. Players must be high school varsity level or older to participate.
In order to compete on Sunday, the player must have participated in at least one game on Friday or Saturday of the tourney.
All proceeds benefit charitable activities of the Salvation Army, helping many people in surrounding communities. There will be a 50-50 drawing during the three-day event.
A spaghetti dinner will be held next month for benefit of the Salvation Army. Anyone interested in purchasing tickets may call the army headquarters at 644-0486 or contact any member of the advisory board.
Attending the tourney planning session, in addition to Venna and Persing, were members of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, including Maj. Tina Streck, commanding officer; Judy Orner, Social Services director; Henry Linton, board president; Janice Kotwica, Ron (Buddy) Knoebel, Violette Feudale, Paul Metrocavage, Harry Deitz and Ned Sodrick.