Cheyenne County Community Center Youth Classic deemed a success

The last weekend of February saw 58 teams embark upon Sidney for the 15th annual Cheyenne County Community Center Youth Classic.

Teams from Colorado, Wyoming and the panhandle of Nebraska provided 3 days of exciting basketball. The tournament format was a three game pool play on Friday and Saturday, which the teams were seeded from their record from the pool play on Friday and Saturday to a single elimination tournament on Sunday.

More than 136 games were played during the three days with almost 125 people volunteering their time to make this event one of the best tournaments in the area.

“There is no way that this tournament would be successful if not for the excellent group of people that care so much about the organized sports in Sidney” said Michael Namuth, tournament director. “It still amazes me that we continue to get the quality of people to be involved in this tournament, but that is what makes it successful and that is why these teams continue to come to Sidney.”

More than 580 boys and girls, with divisions ranging from 5th through 8th grades, played throughout the weekend to determine the respective champions of the Youth Classic.

The tournament was sponsored by Points West Community Bank and Insurance, Cheyenne County Visitor’s Committee, Runza, Sam & Louie’s and Cabela’s, Inc.

“Without the support of these businesses we would not be where we are today with this tournament. Their support allows us to do so much more for the youth of Sidney, I appreciate everything they do for the community center” said Namuth.

When all the play was completed Sunday evening, the following were the winners of the championship pullovers.

Scottsbluff won the 5th grade boys division with Eaton as runner-up; Sterling was champion of the 6th grade boys division with Sidney as runner-up; Sidney won the 7th boys divisions with Gering the runner-up and Scottsbluff won the 8th grade division with Alliance as the runner-up. Sidney was the winner in the 5th grade division with Sterling as the runner-up; Hickory Huskers took the 6th grade with Mitchell finishing as the runner-up and Hemingford won the 8th grade with Sidney as the runner-up.

“I would also like to thank the other sponsors for this event,” Namuth said. “Sidney Public Schools for allowing us to utilize their gyms; Pepsi donated the water for all of the referees who probably deserve the most thanks because of their hard work.

“Everyone that attends our tournament compliments us on the quality of our officiating and cannot believe that those officials volunteer their time. Without them, we would just be another tournament.

“But because of their hard work and commitment to the youth of Sidney, my hat goes off to them. All the volunteers are what make the Cheyenne County Community Center Youth Classic a success,” Namuth said.

All of the game results can be found on the tournament website at http://www.allprosoftware.net/2013ccccyouthclassic.

For more photos click http://www.suntelegraph.com/cgi-bin/htmlos.cgi/001655.24.043382850098797433/photos.