Hoops tournament in Glenwood Springs benefits local causes

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — Ask Mike Picore which of his two annual outdoor hoops tournaments reigns in the court of public opinion and his response is unequivocal: the 4-on-4 version of Hoop D’Ville.

“It’s the kind of tournament people look forward to,” the founder of the summer Hoop D’Ville basketball tourney series, which surfaced in 3-on-3 form in June and is returning in 4-on-4 form on Saturday. “It’s more exciting [than 3-on-3]. The other one’s more of a big man’s game. This is lot more of a playground-style tournament.”

That’s because players have a full court to work with at Sayre Park this time around. There’ll be far fewer bodies banging around in the paint, as is the norm with 3-on-3 tourney’s half-court format

“We’ll have a lot of people out there showboating,” Picore pointed out. “A lot of making the other team look silly. That’s easier to do running full court. The 3-on-3 is more of a set game.”

Picore expects between 15 and 20 teams at Sayre Park, where nightly pick-up games inspired him to found Hoop D’Ville in 2000. It started as just a 3-on-3 tournament. The tourney’s soaring popularity triggered the addition of the 4-on-4 event to the schedule in 2004.

Every summer, Picore says he’s been pestered to make both Hoop D’Villes 4-on-4. So much so that he’s considering the possibility.

“With the popularity of this year’s 4-on-4 one, I might make them both full court next year,” he said.

It’s so popular, Picore even has his brother flying in from Arizona just to play in the tournament, which will be hotly contested.

The Hyenas are the reigning champions and have won three straight Hoop D’Ville’s dating back to last year when they swept the tournaments. The squad also won this summer’s 3-on-3 Hoop D’Ville.

There are also several teams out of Grand Junction with a shot at the title.

Hoop D’Ville 4-on-4 Tournament Saturday, Noon to 8 p.m., at Sayre Park • Full-court games run two at a time on the Sayre courts and are won by leading after two 15-minute halves or by being the first team to reach 30 points. Teams carry rosters of six players. • If it rains, the tournament will shift to the Glenwood Springs Community Center. • The tournament benefits CARE animal shelter, the Angel Network, the Glenwood Springs High School basketball teams and Theresa Monger, a local who’s battling cancer. • Michael Picore, the tournament founder and yearly organizer, is accepting donations on Monger’s behalf at: Michael Picore, Attn: Teresa Monger, P.O. Box 519, Glenwood Springs, Colo., 81602. • It’s not too late to register. Call Picore at 309-2911 for more information.

A good cause

Second to championships this year is a new beneficiary of tournament proceeds.

As in the past, CARE Animal Shelter, Angel Network and the Glenwood Springs High School basketball teams will receive a portion of the profits. Most of the money this year will go to Teresa Monger, Picore’s co-worker at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage in Basalt.

Monger is battling ovarian cancer and Picore wants to help fund her fight against the disease, which includes not only the costly radiation treatments at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Denver but travel back and forth.

“It’s one of those things,” Picore said. “On top of everything else, every other Friday she’s going over to Denver. She’s maintained a real positive attitude. With gas prices and cancer treatment, things add up really quickly.”

If you’re not a basketball player but would like to help Monger out, Picore is accepting donations on her behalf at: Michael Picore, Attn: Teresa Monger, P.O. Box 519, Glenwood Springs, CO 81602.