A Tournament for All
Farrell tournament has sixth successful year

A to Z's AJ Allard snags the rebound from It Takes Four's Daulton Hunt during action in the tournament.

The sixth annual Dan Farrell 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament on Saturday, June 14, was a success according the event's planners.

The tournament features six divisions of players that start in the morning and continue throughout the day.

In Division 1 (those players over 31): Kochan's Crew took the title. The team was comprised by Joe Kochan, Paul Collette, Dave Grenier and Kevin Halstead. In Division 3, the teams with players between grades five and eight, it was the It Takes Four team comprised of Elan Jackson, Justin Capone, Eric Lafferty and Daulton Hunt taking the lead.

In Division 4, it was The Tenacious D's - which is the Bernie, Donna, Derek, Conor, Colleen Doherty - took the win for the second straight year by defeating the Farrelli's. In Division 5, The Team won. The group high schoolers included Julie Kochan, Mia Caligaris, Trevor Burt and Tyrell Notice. And in Division 6 (college to age 30) the Oakmont Alumni - Jake Catlin, Andy Vallee and Chris Temple - took the lead.

It Takes Four's Elan Jackson fights hard for a rebound against A to Z's AJ Allard during the Dan Farrell 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament held at Sweeny Playground in Ashburnham on Saturday, June 14. It Takes Four took the Division 3 title during the tourney. JOURNAL PHOTOS/JEFFREY W. BOUDREAU

The finals in each division were tightly contested and a great deal of fun to watch, said Liz Farrell, one of the organizers.

The annual tournament raised money for the Daniel J. Farrell Scholarship.

This year's recipients of the Daniel J. Farrell Scholarship were Anika Hertel-Therrien and Alex Tambling, two students who had earlier been awarded the Scholar-Athlete Award this past school year.

The day long event on Sween Playground in Ashburnham also featured a raffle. Some of the items raffled off were a beautiful Celtics fleece blanket which was created and donated by Kathi Theriault, three sports baskets full of Red Sox and Celtics books, t-shirts, hats and other great items all donated by the Gahan and Mattus families, and a pair of Boston College tickets to the BC - Notre Dame game on Nov. 8, 2008, donated by Gene Farrell and Rick Barry.

"So many people from the community volunteer their time to help make this event run smoothly," according to Farrell.

Eight certified referees volunteered their time as they reffed for the entire day, and Scott Nussey and Jim Desrosiers emceed the event again this year. In addition, the Lawrence, Gahan, Ramsdell, Bender, LeBlanc, Robidoux and Murphy families helped in every aspect of this tournament.

"There would be no tournament without all the people from our great communities who help so graciously and generously year after year," Farrell said.

Also, community businesses helped with expenses, logistics and/or materials, etc.: Roy Bros Oil, John Boucher Construction, Rick Boutwell Auto Service, Ashburnham Wine and Spirits, and Bill's Septic. The Oakmont Peer Leaders came out days in advance to clean the playground, as they do every year, she said. Oakmont provided the sound and grill systems.