A Hoopfest at Kent-Meridian High School raised $1,500 for the Kent-Meridian girls basketball team.
Twenty-six teams competed in the two-day tournament Dec. 3-4 at the school’s new gym. The divisions for the 5-on-5 tournament included Open, Men’s 35 and Older, Women’s and Recreation.
Tournament organizer Marvena Kemp said the proceeds were $1,500.
Teams paid a $225 entry fee. The tournament had no sponsors and was run by volunteers. Expenses were $5,000.
“I donated my time to put the tournament on rest of the fees paid for the tournament,” Kemp said in an email. “After expense were paid the girls team got the rest.”
Kemp, of Maple Valley and the wife of former Seattle Sonic Shawn Kemp, said expenses included referees, awards, T-shirts, food, tournament brackets, supplies, scorebooks and other items. Two of the biggest expenses included $1,940 for refs and $1,000 for T-shirts.
“Tournaments do cost to host,” Kemp said. “They are not cheap.”
Marvena Kemp has helped run a variety of basketball tournaments, including the annual Reign Man Classic at Franklin High School in Seattle, a fundraiser for the Franklin girls team. This marked the first year Kemp has presented a tournament for the Kent-Meridian team.
Kemp said Kent-Meridian will use the funds to help pay for uniforms, travel to tournaments and other expenses.
The winning teams at the tournament were Sea-Town Ballers in the Open division; Ballys Boys in the 35 and Older group; Seattle Express in the Women’s and MCBL in the Recreation division.
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