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TAYLOR — Women’s National Basketball Association team, the Dallas Wings, has offered to support the 11th annual Taylor Press 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament.
Set for July 13-14 at Taylor High School, a raffle prize for the event will be four tickets to a Dallas Wings game this season.
“With the popularity of players like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and A’Ja Wilson,
WNBA tickets are a great prize to receive,” said Jason Hennington,
area editor and tournament director.
“Women’s basketball is hot right now and is getting a lot of attention.”
Hennington said the tickets are not just a prize, he hopes it will bring in more women’s teams to the local tournament.
“We always want more women’s teams. The ladies are just as competitive as the guys and it’s entertaining to watch,” he said. “With the WNBA’s buzz right now, maybe we can get more girls and ladies coming to play.”
In addition to WNBA tickets, the director said the prizes are worth a trip to the tournament.
“We have an Xbox Series S, a Nintendo Switch, a drone with cameras and so much other really cool stuff this year,” Hennington said.
For the winners in each division, the revered championship rings return this year with a new design, accompanied by more valuable contents.
“No draw string bags this year,” Hennington laughed. “We have nice basketball bags that include a few things, like a vacation getaway.”
Elite Island Resorts has donated destination vacations to the tournament to be used as prizes. According to Hennington, winners in the men’s and women’s 18 and older division will receive certificates for the vacations.
Teams can be made up of three or four players and are sorted by age groups. The leagues are divided into 11-14 year-olds, 15-17 yearolds and anybody over the age of 18 for both men and women classifications.
Anyone who has played at the varsity level will play in the 18 and older division.
It costs $50 per team to register, which can be paid in advance or at arrival. The deadline to sing up is Wednesday, July 10 at 5 p.m.
Entered teams will play a handful of exhibition games the first day and are guaranteed to play in the playoff bracket the following day.
The Shining Stars are the tournament’s co-sponsor. They are a local nonprofit for adults with special needs and will return to operate the concession stand, as well as take to the court once more for a championship series of games.
The Shining Stars game is important because it provides an opportunity for adults with special needs to be looked at for more than just their disabilities or limitations, according to organizers. Tournament registration forms are available at the Taylor Press, 211 W. Third St., and the Taylor Press 3-on-3 Facebook page.
Hennington is looking for donations and volunteers to help with the tournament.
For more, call Hennington at 512-3528535 or 512-269-9735, or email taylorpress3on3@ gmail.com.
