Organizers are chalking up last-minute X’s and O’s and lacing their high-tops for the Silverdale Beach Hotel’s annual summer basketball tournament, the 3-on-3 Silverdale Shoot-Out.
After nearly a year of game planning, the tournament committee hopes to hit a 3-pointer with the third-annual event.
“People are more in-tune to it,” said hotel general manager and Shoot-Out co-organizer Chris Koebelin. “Now in year three, people are saying, ‘OK, we’re coming to expect this. It’s a viable event, its something that is continuing to grow.’”
A kickoff event and food drive is scheduled for July 11 at Kitsap Mall, with the Shoot-Out running Aug. 8-9. The pre-tournament event includes an opportunity to register teams — those who sign up for the Shoot-Out that day are eligible to win an Xbox 360 — plus shooting contests and other giveaways.
Organizers, who will have two hoops set up near the mall food court, are asking those who attend to bring non-perishable food, to be donated to the Central Kitsap Food Bank.
“It will be a big thing for us,” Koebelin said. “Hopefully we’ll get a lot more teams at that point.”
Last year’s tournament brought in $4,500, which was split evenly between three beneficiaries — the Central Kitsap Food Bank, United Way of Kitsap County and the Bremerton chapter of Navy Wives Club of America.
Koebelin hopes to increase that total this year, with proceeds going to Habitat for Humanity of Kitsap County, the West Sound Boys and Girls Club and the Paul Linder Foundation. The goal, he said, is to donate a total of $15,000.
Beneficiaries are selected by the eight-member Shoot-Out committee based on the anticipated impact a donation would make for the beneficiary as well as the community.
“We decided what was the best fit for Central Kitsap and Silverdale — what would help the most,” Koebelin said. “We want to look to build a platform for each year’s event that makes it so the money goes to organizations where the impact can really be felt.”
Koebelin said the planning for this year’s tournament began two weeks after last year’s event, giving the committee time to work with sponsors and gain the support of local businesses.
“We did that because we knew where we wanted to go with the event, and we knew that we needed more time and more help and support in the community. “The committee selects new beneficiaries each year to “spread the wealth.”
There is a direct correlation between funds raised and teams registered, meaning the committee is shooting to draw between 125 and 150 teams for this year’s tournament — about 400 or 500 players — and 1,000 attendees total, including spectators.
The hotel also has set up a Web site where players can register a team and learn more about the tournament. For the past two years, sign-ups have been limited to paper. Live music, food vendors and kids activities are scheduled as well.
The tournament is open to players of all ages and skill levels, with brackets ranging from recreational to competitive.
“It’s exciting to see a lot of people get excited about it, not just a handful of people,” Koebelin said.
