The Cloverdale Eagle Pride Booster Club, alongside Washington Junior High physical education teacher Mac Butler, put on a fun and entertaining community basketball tournament fundraiser to raise money for the junior high and high school athletic programs.
The basketball tournament consisted of four teams, 48 members of the community, and a gym full of excited fans and community event volunteers. It was the largest crowd yet for the tournament, now in its second year. Volunteers ran the snack shack, the scoreboard, the shot clock and the announcing of the game. Community members helped collect gate money, make posters and take pictures of the event while many student athletes volunteered their time to run halftime contests and be a part of the set up and clean up crews. It was a true team effort in hopes that this can become a go-to event for years to come.
The four teams consisted of the reining inaugural champion Teachers/Coaches team, the Cloverdale Fire Department/Cloverdale Police Department team, the Cloverdale High School Alumni team and the Cloverdale Boys and Girls Club/Community Service Clubs team.
The tournament was set up in a three-game format with the winners of game one and the winners of game two to meet in the championship game to take home not only the bragging rights for the year but also the impressive gold basketball perpetual trophy engraved with their team name.
The crowd enjoyed watching athletes from all eras and many who haven’t played the game in years. Some were there for the entertainment of the game while others were there to do everything they could to have their team name on that shiny gold trophy. The event was fun and very entertaining for all who attended.
Those in attendance gave a round of applause and a standing ovation for all the first responders on the basketball team and in attendance. The CHS cheer squad cheered throughout the night and were a big show of support for all four teams.
This year’s winning team and 2017 champions were the Cloverdale High School Alumni team. Players included: Teanne Edens Class of 2016, Whitney Edens Class of 2011, Tony Martinez Class of 2006, Seth Lampert Class of 2011, Luke Pope Class of 2017, Gage Hoover Class of 2017, Michael McDermott Class of 2016, Sara Gambetta Class of 2011, Jordan Gambetta Class of 2009, Craig Bernardi Class of 2006, Mike Ramazzotti Class of 2000 and Brittany Vandagriff Class of 2011.
The Eagle Pride Boosters Club and Mac Butler would like to thank the following people for making this event a huge success: game sponsors including team jerseys Will Jopson and Ace Hardware plus Patrick King and Soil King Garden center. Game officials Tom Kurpinsky and Larry Golbe. Paul Gasparo with Sierra Ad Specialties for making the team jerseys. The Washington Middle School Eagle Pride Club for the posters and selling #sonomacountystrong shirts. First responder and cheer coach Sherie McNulty and the CHS cheer squad. Sara Grell and Starbucks and Mike Nixon and Papa’s Pizza for donating the half court shot prizes. Announcer Don Goodman. Scoreboard operators Sean Geske and Tom Stone.
A special thanks to the wonderful community members who attended and supported the event.
— submitted by Eagle Pride Boosters Club Board of Directors
