Northampton, Amherst boys to play in second Harrington basketball classic
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NORTHAMPTON - The Jill E. Harrington Hanzalik Basketball Classic has a new home for its second year.
The high school basketball event will host four games at Northampton High School on Friday, Dec. 30, and Saturday, Dec. 31.
"We are looking to switch venues each year from a venue down in that area to one back up a little further north. That's our goal," said Adam Harrington, president and cofounder of the Jill E. Harrington Hanzalik Memorial Fund. Last year, the Classic featured four straight games at Pioneer Regional in Northfield, where Harrington starred before moving on to play college basketball at North Carolina State and Auburn and then professionally, including in the NBA.
This year, the event is split into two days. The Smith Academy and Easthampton boys square off on Friday at 5 p.m. followed by rivals Northampton and Amherst Regional at 7 p.m.
"It's nice. It's an honor to get in there and play in that tournament," said Blue Devils boys coach Rey Harp. "Adam has been great for our town and players. He has worked with our guys and anything we can do to help him out."
Saturday kicks off with a free basketball clinic for boys and girls in grades 4-8 at 9:30 a.m. Registration begins at 9 a.m.
The Greenfield and Mahar Regional boys teams then play at noon, followed by the Northampton girls against Pittsfield.
The Northampton boys and girls and Greenfield boys played in last year's event.
"It's exciting to bring it down here and to reach other schools," Harrington said. "We have a couple of repeat schools, but we also have a couple new schools that we can reach in new areas.
"Not only is it great to give back to those areas, but also to make those areas aware of the foundation and what we can do for kids. Fundraising and these events are great, but the rewarding part, and the reason we established the foundation, was helping kids. We just love to raise awareness and impact kids."
Admission each day is $5 for adults and $3 for students and seniors. Their will be food, raffles, prizes and entertainment throughout both days.
Harrington is particularly close to the Northampton girls team, which is coached by his former high school coach Perry Messer.
Harrington has been a regular at the team's practices and games this season.
"It's good to be around the game and of course I have a great time with Perry and being around the girls," he said. "I'm just glad to impact high school basketball any way that I can.
"I've been through it all. It's been very good. I know how Perry works, so I'm able to attack different angles to the girls and try to get to them. Basically, I'm reiterating the same things, but I'm a different voice and in a different way. They have come a long way, but they still have a long way to go, which is going to be fun to watch."
Harrington said he hoped the timing of the event will lead to a strong turnout for what the foundation considers a give-back event.
"This year, having it during the holiday break is great," Harrington said. "A lot of families are in town and college kids are back from school, so we are hoping to have the atmosphere be what we wanted - everyone coming together for a common purpose, watching kids play basketball, raising money and giving back."
Harrington began the Foundation as a way to honor his late sister, Jill Harrington Hanzalik. She an her son Chase died shortly after childbirth on April 26, 2010. The fund was created by her family, including husband Joseph Hanzalik.
Harrington sees the event as a perfect combination of his sister's love of basketball, helping kids and planning big events. Harrington Hanzalik worked in event management with the NBA and the Dallas Mavericks.
"We try to create this tournament atmosphere that they wouldn't normally experience taking experiences that I've had from all my travels. Really, it all comes down to what my sister did for years," Harrington said. "She did a lot of this. It's spinning off of that passion that she had and hopefully sparking something in these kids and get them to chase their dreams, whether it's basketball or something else. Any type of encouragement we can offer is great for us."
Harp said his Blue Devils enjoyed the experience last season.
"They'll be ready to go. They really liked playing it in last year," he said. "It's really well done so ... it's a bigger game. They treat us like college kids."
To learn more about the Jill E. Harrington Hanzalik Memorial Fund, go to www.chaseyourdreamsnow.org.
FALL ALL-STARS - The Daily Hampshire Gazette's revamped fall all-star teams will be published beginning Friday.
In addition to team selections, the Gazette will now select a player of the year as part of its postseason honors.
GAME OF THE WEEK - South Hadley at Agawam, Olympia Ice Rink, West Springfield, Friday, 6 p.m.
The Tigers and Brownies square off in what has become a heated rivalry. South Hadley, then known as Holyoke, defeated Agawam in the each of the last two Western Massachusetts Division 3A Tournament championship games.
The teams have played in the postseason in each of the last four years, with Holyoke winning the last three times en route to three straight western Massachusetts titles.
AWARDS - Audrey Gould of Amherst Regional was named to the Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association's first annual All-Academic All-State Cross Country team for Division 1. Mel Devoney and Emmy Zimmerman, both of Amherst, joined Gould on the MSTCA Western Massachusetts All-Academic Cross Country Team.
Sam Coates-Finke, Alex Sullivan and Charles Hale of Northampton were named to the MSTCA Western Massachusetts All-Academic Boys Cross Country Team.
Northampton native Patrick Dickert, who is a sophomore at Loomis Chaffee, was named a Founders League All-Star in boys cross country.
HONORS - Former Amherst Regional football coach Bill Manchester was named the Division 5 Coach of the Year by the Boston Globe. Manchester guided his alma mater Nantucket to a Division 5 Super Bowl victory in his first season.
OPENINGS - Smith Academy has coaching positions open for the following sports: varsity baseball, junior varsity baseball, middle school baseball and junior varsity softball.
Interested applicants should submit a letter of intent to Athletic Director David Keir, Smith Academy, 34 School Street, Hatfield, Ma., 01038.
Staff writer Mike Moran contributed to this report. Jim Pignatiello can be reached at jpignatiello@gazettenet.com.
