This past Easter weekend brought the long-awaited return of the P.A.S.S. Paulding Area Support Society’s “playing ball for those who can’t” basketball marathon. This is the first time since COVID precautions caused the cancellation in the Spring of 2020. While the participants were lower this year at 76 teams, we were very satisfied with the results after such a long layoff. The 42nd Marathon is projected to raise over $3,800.00 for the P.A.S.S. Society. This year marked the first time in the last 22-years that Jim Hooker the “marathon’s founding father” had attended the marathon since moving to Arizona. Jim brought the idea for the Basketball Marathon charity event home from his time at Bowling Green University and served as the chairman & co-chairman for the first 19 years. Jim returned to salute two other chairman & co-chairman that this year’s 42nd Basketball Marathon was dedicated in the memory of Bill Price & Chad Cluts, following their recent passing. Jim Hooker then went on to present the current Basketball Marathon chairman Chad Benschneider with the “2022 Founders Award” for his leadership and dedication over the past 2-decades of being co-chairman and then chairman of the Marathon Committee.
The Basketball Marathon committee then proceeded to give out the traveling plaque to Nick & Kaleigh McClain who both serve an instrumental role on the Marathon committee. The team awards are listed below. If you were not present at the awards ceremony please call or text Chad at 419-769-4708 to receive your awards.
The Basketball Marathon needs some high school age committee members to be involved with coordinating with the schools and recruiting new teams, this looks very good on college applications. For those interested contact Chad at the number above.
Mini-tots:
1st place Divine Mercy School 46 points; 2nd Place Raintech Seamless Gutters 40 points; Sportsmanship: Dairy Queen
Tots:
1st place Ben Kauser Excavating 53 points; 2nd place Ben Kauser Excavating 43 points; Sportsmanship The Dream Team
Mini-youth: 1st place Dealey Chemical 50 points; 2nd place Young Brothers Farms 49 points
Youth:
1st Place Hooker Enterprises 52 points; 2nd place K&K Mechanical Insulators 27 points
Co-ed:
1st The Eclectic Company 111 points; 2nd place Midwest Federal Credit Union 106 points; Sportsmanship Mercer Landmark; Sportsmanship Lippert Glass
Men:
1st place – Briceton Sharpshooters (new all time record 200 points); 2nd place – Your Mom’s Favorite Team 155 points; Sportsmanship – The Mangette Clan
