Fort Hamilton hosted a unique basketball tournament, where students had the opportunity to play each other in a variety of 3-on-3 basketball matches, on Friday, January 19th. Twenty-seven teams made an appearance at the Boys’ Gym to compete against each other for a shot at victory.
Teams competed in a two-loss elimination tournament. The final two teams came down to The Takeover—consisting of Kendry Sanchez, Miles Hairston, and Yousef Barghash—who went face to face with The Buccaneers—made up of Aidan Farley, Pedro Estanislado, and Efrain Virallas. In the end, The Takeover took the winning shot and earned the title of 3-on-3 Basketball Champions. The team was awarded Amazon gift cards for its efforts.
Despite the competition, the sportsmanship displayed was a sight to behold. Players were found to be both passionate and civil as they enjoyed a fair game of ball. There was a sense of community at the event, with everyone coming together over a shared interest.
But it wasn’t just the students and attendees who appreciated the event. School aide Mr. Maldonado acknowledged the benefits of holding the tournament. “It was great seeing the kids having fun, competing, and rooting for their friends,” he said. “Some kids entered the tournament just to have something to do on a Friday night, some played for bragging rights, and others simply wanted to see how they matched up.”
Activities Coordinator, Mr. Alvear, who organized the tournament, reflected on the experience with pride.
“The event was a complete success, as we were able to provide an opportunity for students to do something productive on a Friday night, something they’re extremely passionate about,” he said. “All in all, we witnessed the players flash great skill and tremendous sportsmanship. I hope one day we can provide intramural sports for our student body, as it is clear there is a great need and demand for them.”
Coming together in more ways than one, the students and faculty at Fort Hamilton have helped raise both awareness and funding for more programs in which students are interested. All the money raised from the event will be used to fund upcoming school-wide student events, such as the Valentine’s Day Dance and various other spring Leadership initiatives.
