SL Biddy to host hoops tourneys

Roast, Toast & Boast
July 29, 2015
Soldier of the Year a Larose native
July 29, 2015
Roast, Toast & Boast
July 29, 2015
Soldier of the Year a Larose native
July 29, 2015

Are you a good basketball player? Are you someone who’s maybe not so good, but still loves to play anyway?


Did you play in the past, but have a hard time today finding organized, reliable 5-on-5 full-court action with patched officials?

Do you want to raise money for a local youth sports organization?

Do you have kids who maybe wouldn’t mind playing, too, if given the opportunity?


If you answered yes to any of the above-stated questions, then South Lafourche Biddy Basketball wants you to get your best sneakers out of the closet and head to the Cut Off Youth Center from August 7-9.

During that weekend, the youth sports league will host its Sixth-Annual Summer Classic, which features both a 5-on-5 adult tournament on Friday and Saturday and then a 3-on-3 children’s tournament on Sunday.

The cost to make an adult team is $250 per team, while children can compete at $20 a team.


To register, contact South Lafourche Biddy Basketball President Damien St. Pierre at (985)-637-1513.

St. Pierre said the three-day weekend is always a good time for everyone involved. Proceeds go to South Lafourche Biddy Basketball to help the organization start its season.

“There are not many times in your adult life that you can play in a 5-on-5 basketball game in an organized setting,” St. Pierre said. “We want people to take advantage of this opportunity and help out our community athletes in the process. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.”


The event is pretty competitive, too.

Throughout the five-year history of the tournament, several local standout players have competed in the fundraiser, including collegiate players like Lionheart Leslie, Gibby Talbot, Nate Frye, Caden Cheramie and Wade Scioneaux.

“It’s a fun event,” Leslie said. “I played in the last few years, and I’ve always had a good time. The competition is really good, and when you can do something nice for kids, it’s even better. I wish that they had more things like this when I was younger, but it’s definitely good that the people in that community do something cool to support their children. I think it’s a great thing.”


Rosters for the 5-on-5 tournament aren’t known until teams show up for their first games, but St. Pierre said that there are rumblings that the 2015 tournament will again be loaded with the best players in our area.

St. Pierre said that seven teams are currently signed up. Registration will be capped once 12 teams enter the field.

“We try and cap it at 12 because we are only scheduled to play for two days,” St. Pierre said. “Teams can sign up on a first-come, first-serve basis. As far as the competition goes, there are some teams that have played every year, and trust me, they know each other very well. Sometimes things can get chippy on the floor.”


But away from the natural competitive flare that the tournament possesses, the weekend is all about using the game of basketball to raise money for Biddy.

St. Pierre said that the tournament annually provides around $2,500- $3,000 for South Lafourche Biddy Basketball to start its season.

Throughout the weekend, food, drinks and t-shirts will be sold.


“This tournament is a great start to our year,” St. Pierre said.

After the adults compete on Friday and Saturday, the kids will get their chance to take the floor on Sunday.

St. Pierre said the Summer Classic started as an adults-only event. But because the weekend raises money for a youth basketball organization, St. Pierre said the decision was made two years ago to give the kids a chance to play, too.


The Sunday tournament will feature 3-on-3 half-court competition divided into tournament brackets in all of the Biddy Basketball age groups. Competitors will play several games, first competing in a round-robin pool, before then playing in a single-elimination tournament to crown a champion.

Two games will take place at once on the Cut Off Youth Center’s floor. Teams are allowed to have four players, but substitutions can only be made on dead balls.

“There were so many people asking about the kids, so the need was there to give them a tournament, too,” St. Pierre said. “There’s not a way for us to play 5-on-5 with them, because of the number of age groups that we have, so the 3-on-3 tournament was born.”


St. Pierre said parents can register their children during the 5-on-5 tournament or by phone call or on Facebook.

He said that walk-ins on Sunday will not be welcomed, as event organizers have to have a bracket and schedule made prior to the tournaments beginning on that morning.

SOUTH LAFOURCHE BIDDY ANNOUNCES REGISTRATION DATES


In addition to the memorial tournament, South Lafourche Biddy Basketball also has set its preliminary schedule for the 2015 season.

St. Pierre said that registration will take place on Aug. 18, 20, 25 and 27 at the Cut Off Youth Center. St. Pierre cautioned that the 27th is a firm cut-off date to get your child in the league.

For parents unable to afford registration, South Lafourche Biddy Basketball also has the Shawn Dardar Memorial Fund, which covers registration fees for low-income families who want to place their children in Biddy Basketball.


Dardar was a longtime coach in South Lafourche Biddy Basketball who inspired thousands with his quick wit, unique ways and love for the kids on the court.

He died in a wreck before the 2014 Biddy Basketball season.

South Lafourche Biddy Basketball will hold its draft on Aug. 31, and on Sept. 1 practices will begin.


The 2015 season is slated to start preliminarily on Sept. 12-13.

The local basketball organization is one of the largest Biddy organizations in our area. With several hundred kids, South Lafourche Biddy Basketball gives young boys and girls ages 4-14 a chance to compete in basketball.

St. Pierre said the organization has grown in the past several years, and events like the tournaments help let people in the community know that the organization is doing good things.


South Lafourche Biddy Basketball player Tyler Lee dribbles a basketball during a game this season. Lee and other young basketball players can compete in the Summer Classic, which will take place from Aug. 7-9.

COURTESY