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ENLARGE
Doug and Char Bennett (second and third from left), older brother and sister of the late Alex Bennett, for whom the memorial tournament is named, flew in from Chicago and Portland respectively to take part in the event, which took place Sunday, Nov. 2, at Mesa State’s Saunders Fieldhouse.
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — The Alex Bennett Memorial Basketball Tournament was played on Sunday at Mesa State College. A total of 56 teams (a new record) participated and 100 games were played. Action started at 8 a.m. Mesa State College players helped officiate the games and kept score.
The annual event honors the memory of Alex Bennett, a former Grand Junction High School student.
“This is a great way to kickoff the start of the winter sports season, while honoring the memory of a young man whose passion was basketball,” said tournament director Steve Irion.
Proceeds from the event go to scholarships at Mesa State College and area high school students in Bennett’s name. More than $15,000 has been awarded over the past four years.
Winners for the different age group include:
5/6 Boys
Badgers
Sydni Brandon
Ridge Droskin
Scott Nielsen
Ben Volkmann
5/6 Girls
Shooters
Amanda Etcheverry
Tyler Hays
Bailey Hicks
Makenzie Lange
7/8 Boys
Wildcats
Eli Combs
Kendall Crites
Brad Dempsey
Doran Wood
7/8 Girls
Explosion (3rd year in a row)
Hannah Mahnke
Mallery Paulson
Jenni Sneddon
9/10 Boys
Wildcats
Cade Chapin
Alex Jouflas
James Lewis
Tanner McKenzie
9/10 Girls
Eastside Ballers
Stephanie Drake
Julie Essman
Taylor Johnson
Joei Ritter
11/12 Boys
#1 Suspects
Sam Morgan
Everett Robinson
Kimani Robinson
Justin Trujillo
Open Men’s
The Uni-Ballers
Matt Dearth
Jaren Gallegos
Bjorn Irion
Sam Krey
Derek McCullough
Winners from the Hot Shot competitions and 3-point shooting contest include:
Hot Shot
Boys 8th grade and under: Jake Thornburg
Girls 8th grade and under: Sydni Brandon
Boys High School or Older: Tanner Crites
Girls High School or Older: Taylor Johnson
3-Point Contest
Boys 8th grade and under: Caleb Coleman
Boys High School or Older: David McFall
Girls High School or Older: Whitney Robison
Winners will be recognized at halftime of an MSC game over the Thanksgiving holiday. In addition, anyone who competed in the event will get free admission to an MSC game over the Thanksgiving holiday if they wear their “Bring It” shirt.
The annual event honors the memory of Alex Bennett, a former Grand Junction High School student.
“This is a great way to kickoff the start of the winter sports season, while honoring the memory of a young man whose passion was basketball,” said tournament director Steve Irion.
Proceeds from the event go to scholarships at Mesa State College and area high school students in Bennett’s name. More than $15,000 has been awarded over the past four years.
Winners for the different age group include:
5/6 Boys
Badgers
Sydni Brandon
Ridge Droskin
Scott Nielsen
Ben Volkmann
5/6 Girls
Shooters
Amanda Etcheverry
Tyler Hays
Bailey Hicks
Makenzie Lange
7/8 Boys
Wildcats
Eli Combs
Kendall Crites
Brad Dempsey
Doran Wood
7/8 Girls
Explosion (3rd year in a row)
Hannah Mahnke
Mallery Paulson
Jenni Sneddon
9/10 Boys
Wildcats
Cade Chapin
Alex Jouflas
James Lewis
Tanner McKenzie
9/10 Girls
Eastside Ballers
Stephanie Drake
Julie Essman
Taylor Johnson
Joei Ritter
11/12 Boys
#1 Suspects
Sam Morgan
Everett Robinson
Kimani Robinson
Justin Trujillo
Open Men’s
The Uni-Ballers
Matt Dearth
Jaren Gallegos
Bjorn Irion
Sam Krey
Derek McCullough
Winners from the Hot Shot competitions and 3-point shooting contest include:
Hot Shot
Boys 8th grade and under: Jake Thornburg
Girls 8th grade and under: Sydni Brandon
Boys High School or Older: Tanner Crites
Girls High School or Older: Taylor Johnson
3-Point Contest
Boys 8th grade and under: Caleb Coleman
Boys High School or Older: David McFall
Girls High School or Older: Whitney Robison
Winners will be recognized at halftime of an MSC game over the Thanksgiving holiday. In addition, anyone who competed in the event will get free admission to an MSC game over the Thanksgiving holiday if they wear their “Bring It” shirt.
