In its second year, the Cortez Junior Basketball Tournament again hit a swish, with more than 600 elementary and middle students competing.
This year, the tournament hosted 30 teams, eight more than last year. Refereed games were played at the Montezuma-Cortez High School gym all day Saturday.
“The whole idea is for local kids to get some competition at a higher levels to prepare them for playing in high school,” said Todd Plewe, of Montezuma Storm, the local junior club team.
The TC Blaze seventh- grade team defeated Page in the boys championship game. The eighth-grade TC Blaze team defeated Northern Arizona Hoopsters in the girls championship game.
While none of the seven Cortez teams won their tournaments, the fifth- and sixth- grade boys teams came in second, and the seventh-grade boys came in third place.
“We want to thank the school district for their support, and the referees did a great job,” Plewe said.
More than 60 local youths play for Montezuma Storm, and travel to Ignacio, Montrose, Pagosa Springs, and Cedar City, Utah, to test their skills against high quality teams.
“The kids have a lot of fun. It’s well run with good volunteers,” Plewe said.
Montezuma Storm Basketball program serves children grades 5-12 in Montezuma County.