When this year’s Allen & Allen Hoopla 3 on 3 Tournament kicks off July 24 at the Dominion campus in the Innsbrook office park, one Goochland family will feel right at home. The Williams’ have made the Sports Backers’ annual basketball tournament a family affair. Jeff Williams has coached his daughter Megan’s team, the Rockville Extreme Blue Team, for the last three tournaments.

  “I decided several years ago to enter a team because this type of tournament really teaches great team work and emphasizes the fundamentals of basketball,” Williams said. But, it is not the coaching aspect of the weekend that he looks forward too every year. “I look forward to spending quality time with my daughter doing something we both love to do,” he said.

  With the tournament only days away, the Williams’ have already begun prepping Megan’s team’s wardrobe. “We always make cool t-shirts for the girls to wear. It really gets the girls excited and motivated to play,” he said.

  Williams says that he enjoyed watching Megan take part in the competitions, and he hopes to see Megan defend her title in the spot shooting contest.

  This year’s tournament features a double elimination format, with a consolation bracket for teams that lose their first two games, guaranteeing each team at least three games throughout the weekend. There are also separate shooting competitions, music, food and great sponsor giveaways.

  The Allen & Allen Hoopla 3 on 3 offers basketball players of all ages and skill levels competitive games in a great event atmosphere that features music, food, and sponsor giveaways. The three skill levels offered are the elite, competitive and recreational divisions, with male, female, and co-ed teams in both. Co-ed teams must have one player of each gender on the court at all times. There will also be three age divisions: Youth (Ages 8-13), High School (Grades 9-12), and Adult (Ages 18 & older).

Still, still competitive

  After playing collegiate football at Virginia Tech (1992-1995) then going on to play in the National Football League with the San Diego Chargers (1996-1999), former wide receiver Bryan Still still finds time to exercise by participating in local events such as the Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen Hoopla 3 on 3 basketball tournament.
  Still, who is now a Health & PE teacher and the track and field coach at Cosby High School, will compete in the Standard Adult division on Team Pride.

  “I teach the kids about the importance of staying active as you get older,” said Still. “I just think that it’s very important to maintain a level of fitness.” This will be his third year participating in the tournament.

  The event offers basketball players of all ages and skill levels competitive games in a great atmosphere that features music, food, and sponsor giveaways. The three skill levels offered are the elite, competitive and recreational divisions, with male, female, and co-ed teams in both. Co-ed teams must have one player of each gender on the court at all times. 

  Highlighting the big-event will be the Bon Secours Sports Medicine Arena Court, which will host the high energy elite division games and the rim-rattling action of the Best Buy Slam Dunk Contest. Youth and high school players will enjoy competing on the Tropical Smoothie Youth Championship Court, which will also serve as the site of the Kid’s Slam Dunk Contest. Then, all weekend long, the competitors and spectators can also show off their free throw shooting, three-point shooting, and ball handling abilities on the T & B Equipment Contest Court.