The Monstars prevailed in the ninth annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament hosted by LM Premier and the South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District Saturday, July 20.
The Monstars — Lawrence Sutton, Cooper Nichols, Elijah Nichols and Parker Collins — defeated Trust the Process for the title of the five-team, double elimination tournament.
“Trust the Process put up a good fight even though they only had three players and no sub,” said Louis Muniz, tournament director. “It went down to the wire with the Monstars hitting a three to seal the victory.”
Trust the Process — Kyle Collins, Kramer O’Keefe and Gavin O’Keefe — dropped its opening game to the Falcons and then won three straight elimination games, including defeating the Falcons in a rematch, to reach the finals.
The Monstars went unbeaten in four games to claim the title.
The Falcons — Nick Young, Jacob Ng, Sterling Patton and Brady Hezel — placed third; Old Skool — William Schneeman, Brandon Turner and Muniz — finished fourth; and the Mastadons — Steven Sutton, Trevor Miller, Chase White and Donovan Miller — took fifth.
Young, a rising senior on the South Whidbey High School basketball team, won the three-point contest, hitting five of 10 in both rounds. Parker Collins finished second and White third.
The players and spectators were entertained by DJ Blizzard (Madeleine Muniz) on the turntables throughout the tournament.
For the first time, the tournament was played entirely outside on the Rotary Court, which was purchased by funds raised by the previous 3-on-3 tournaments. This year, the proceeds will go toward the South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District’s scholarship program that covers youth basketball registration fees for families in need.
The Falcons’ Jacob Ng goes to the hoop. (Photo by Jim Waller/South Whidbey Record)
Sterling Patton shoots a floater in the Falcons’ opening round win over Trust the Process. (Photo by Jim Waller/South Whidbey Record)
Nick Young gets loose for a lay-up. Young, who played for the Falcons, went on to win the tournament three-point contest. (Photo by Jim Waller/South Whidbey Record)
