herald_dispatch
The Valleyball basketball tournament is celebrating its 40th anniversary this weekend at RPA Park in Spring Valley.
The annual 3-on-3 tournament began in 1986.
Those interested in attending can watch the tournament beginning at 9 a.m.
on Saturday.
With weather permitting, the plan is to play until the tournament ends, with Sunday available if needed.
It was a huge thing back in the mid-2000s, tournament organizer Joe Suttles said of the history.
There would be 30 teams and a three-day tournament.
I brought it back after COVID ended.
It was thanks to Kathy McKenna of the Huntington Park Board.
She supports us and makes sure we have everything we need.
Were wanting to celebrate our 40th anniversary this year.
We want people to know it all started from scratch.
Humble beginnings included a tournament originally run from scratch to raise money to improve basketball courts.
Rod and Rick Wiles were the main contributors back in 86, Suttles said.
The first team to win the tournament were a few guys, including Rod Wiles.
Their team name was Tubbies.
They won the first two years all the way back then.
Those guys, now, talk to me still and say how old they feel now that its the 40th anniversary.
Suttles said he looked up to the founders of the event when he was younger.
Hes now the new coach for South Points boys basketball team.
A lot of those guys, I watched them when I was a kid.
They were real role models in the way they treated the younger ones.
They wanted them to play the right way, Suttles said.
Rick and Rod are still community staples.
Theyre still here for me for manpower or anything.
Theyve been coaches for the last 30-40 years.
Some of these guys have grandkids that are playing in the tournament now.
Were trying to push to a new generation.
Suttles said the tournaments new goal is geared to a younger generation.
Ive been trying to get more high school kids and recently graduated kids out there, Suttles said.
They get a taste of it and fall in love with it.
It gives a chance to get away from the stress of travel basketball or offseason workouts.
They get a chance to put a team together with all their buddies.
They can play with their dads and uncles and cousins, Suttles said.
Anyone can play.
The young men get to gauge their skills against current and former college players.
A lot of the older guys bring the younger ones under their wing.
The game gets stronger and tougher as you get older, and this is a taste of it.
We play through contact, and its physical.
A lot of kids either shy away or embrace that.
The ones that embrace it tend to do well.
Suttles said hes seen interest from local coaches who are helping organize teams.
I just got off the phone with coach Lambros Svingos from Huntington.
I think theyre going to get a team together," Suttles said of the Highlanders' coach.
"Weve been buddies for a long time and competed with and against each other.
Expression Prep is looking to get a group out there.
They have some travel ball kids that come and go.
Well have some recent graduates from St.
Joe.
One is playing with his dad.
A lot of young men that have been part of the community and played in this area for years are loving it.
Theyre playing pickup ball to get ready.
Suttles said anyone is welcome to attend and watch the event.
Its become a community event compared to when I played in it.
It used to be strictly basketball, and now its more of a family-friendly event with the tournament, Suttles said.
Teams always procrastinate to get their last players, but we always have a good number of players, volunteers, sponsors and everything else.
This one will be a big celebration and a good time for bringing out those who started it.
Well commemorate them.
If it wasnt for them, we wouldnt have it.