Editor's note: The following is a press release from the Cortland Regional Sports Council.
CORTLAND, N.Y. — The Cortland Regional Sports Council and Central Western AAU are partnering once again to host the 2018 Cortland Shootout. This year marks the 14th year of the AAU sanctioned Basketball Tournament. In an effort to keep the tournament attractive to out of town teams, a Friday night College Showcase game will take place for 10th & 11th grade players in the tournament.
Kicking off with the showcase games on Friday night March 16th and for two more days this weekend - March 17th and 18th, over 100 teams are expected in Cortland competing for their age group title. A couple of local teams including the Cortland Basketball Club will be in the tournament field. The registration deadline is March 10th.
“The College Showcase Games will be held at Corey Gym on SUNY Cortland’s campus. Girls tip off at 6:00pm and Boys at 8:00pm.” said tournament director, Rich Hill. Coaches from Division II & III plus Junior College coaches have been invited to attend. “With so many other basketball opportunities this day and age, we are hoping players take advantage of this showcase opportunity and add it to their resume.” stated Hill.
Tournament games will be contested at several Cortland area locations: Park Center/Corey Gym and Lusk Field house at SUNY Cortland, the Cortland Junior-Senior High School, TC3’s Sports Complex and the County Office Building Gym. Age groups from under 11 to under 17 will be playing.
“Part of what defines an event’s success is its return. In this case, not only is the tournament back in Cortland, but so are many of the teams from previous years. Teams from Canada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York will be here to participate in our tournament. This tells me that we’re doing something right,” said Machell Phelps, executive director of the CRSC. “When we started this event, it was the only tournament on this weekend near us. Now there are 3 others yet we continue to maintain a field of over 100 teams. I think that’s also a measure of success.”
“Beyond the competition and fun for the participating teams, there is also an economic benefit for the Cortland community,” Phelps said. “With this many teams in town for two days, area hotels, restaurants, gas stations and stores are bound to benefit.”
The Cortland Regional Sports Council, which took over running the Empire State Senior Games and brought the NYSPHSAA Girls State Soccer Championships to Cortland, invites the community to come out and support the tournament. There is a nominal entry fee for adults. Age group finals will take place Sunday afternoon, starting around 1:00pm. Later next week, you can view the complete schedule at www.centralwestern.org or www.cortlandsports.org.
