The court was packed. The DJ was bumping. The jumpers were falling, and the sun was shining all day long. There’s a reason organizers call it “Love Day.”
Greenport’s sixth annual Summer Basketball Tournament once again turned the Third St. court into the hottest spot in town. From future stars draining threes to the little ones leaving it all on the blacktop, the day was all hoops, good vibes and hometown love, with Chef Smiley from Cooking Up Love on the grill. (Chris Francescani photos).
Candace Hall, who organized the event with her friend Destiny Salter, said the tournament is fueled by dozens of small donations and an army of volunteers, from the coaches and DJ to the family members serving food. “I think people love it because it feels good,” she said. “I think people crave feeling good about their community, and that’s what happens here.”
The tournament features players from 4 to 18 years old, coached by a mix of Greenport High School and travel basketball coaches who volunteer their time. Hall said the event intentionally avoids the win-at-all-costs atmosphere of many youth tournaments, giving players a chance to sharpen their skills while simply enjoying the game. “We’re not super rigid about the games,” she said. “It feels good to be able to not have everything riding on something.”
That spirit extends well beyond the court. Hall’s cousin and uncle donate their catering services because their children and grandchildren play in the tournament, while neighbors pitch in however they can. After six years, the formula has become remarkably consistent: good basketball, good weather and a crowd that returns year after year. “Everybody just wants to pull together to make this work,” Hall said. “It’s so amazing.”
Finally, the tournament has been blessed by consistently good weather.
This is our lucky Saturday. We do the last Saturday in July each year, and each year we’ve had great weather. We’ve had summers where it rained every other Saturday in July, except for this one. I feel like this is our day. This is our weekend.”
