A 3 on 3 By the Sea for Clare
By Keith “Bugsy” Goldberg
The 11th Annual Clare Droesch 3 on 3 by the Sea was once again held at St. Francis de Sales Fr. Grogan Memorial Schoolyard on a beautiful Friday, August 23. Approximately 500 players on nearly 100 teams competed in fantastic 3 on 3 basketball while honoring the memory of Clare Droesch. It has now been six years since Clare succumbed in her courageous battle with breast cancer, following a standout All-American career as a player at St. Francis, Christ the King, and Boston College, and a coaching career that took her to Vanderbilt, St John’s, Scholars’ Academy, St. Edmund’s, and finally back to Christ the King. Long time Christ the King coach Vincent Cannizaro, who passed away this year, was also remembered at the event.
Teams were broken into groups of three, four or five teams depending on how many teams entered in each age group. Pool play consisted of either two or three games. In age groups with only one section, the top two teams in pool play faced each other for the championship. In ages with two sections, the top team in each section battled for the championship. Additional consolation games were scheduled for teams that did not advance to the championship, particularly if pool play for their group consisted of two games.
Play was scheduled across four sessions beginning in the morning with the youngest age groups, and ending in the late afternoon with the High School and Open divisions. The event included merchandise sales, 50/50s and other special raffles to raise money for the Clare Droesch Foundation, which supports scholarships at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy, Christ the King High School, and Boston College, as well as providing assistance to families in need who are dealing with cancer. The Clare Droesch Foundation is administered by The Graybeards. A post event celebration was held at Callie’s with the raffle winners drawn there and everyone toasting the great day as we remembered Clare.
These are the 2024 champions:
Boys
2nd grade – 2nd Grade Sigmas
3rd grade – Ankle Breakers
4th grade – Run It Back
5th grade – Breakaways
6th grade – Shifty Elite
7th grade – Team Jaws
8th grade – Goofy Goobers
9th grade – Rock Park All Stars
10th grade – Naz Reids
11th-12th – Pasquale’s Pandas
Open – Crushies
Girls
3rd grade – Basketball Besties
4th grade – Legends Never Die
5th grade – Long Island Hoopers
6th grade – Rockaway Hoopers
7th grade – Clare’s Cupcakes
8th grade – TCG
9th grade – Rockaway Rascals
10th-12th – Team FX
Open – Whitty Women
Photos by Kim Gahn and Katie McFadden.
