Easton Recreational Basketball holds 25th Annual Muscato Tournament at Stonehill

The 25th Annual Muscato Holiday Basketball Tournament took place this past weekend at the Sally Blair Ames Sports Complex at Stonehill College. The tournament, which is played between Christmas and New Years, is comprised of over 100 teams participating from over 30 towns and communities in MA and RI. Teams are made up of boys and girls in 4th-8th grades.

This annual event allows Easton Recreational Basketball the opportunity to provide a comprehensive and competitive program to the youth of Easton and the surrounding towns. In partnership with Stonehill College, the tournament is an opportunity for kids to play outside of their normal league. All teams are guaranteed three games and the games are played in a round robin format on 6 indoor courts. Easton Recreational Basketball President, Kevin O’Brien, is thrilled with the turnout this year. He says, “There are a number of rivalries that have developed and are renewed each year- it adds to the excitement!”

Along with the OA Boosters and parent volunteers, the OA boys and girl freshman, JV and Varsity basketball players who participated as younger athletes in this event, now give back to the Easton Rec League by helping to run the tournament. Says Bill Kotopoulos, the event director, “This tournament is all about the community and people giving so much of their time to make this event a success and carry on the tradition in Val Muscato’s memory.”

The event is named after the beloved Val Muscato, longtime Oliver Ames High School coach and athletic director. The local family-owned company, Easton Pool and Spa, is the lead sponsor for the tournament. President, OA Alumni and Easton native, Dave Hobaica, is thrilled to support an event named after a coach he loved and admired. He says, “I have a lot of respect for the Muscato family. Val, or "Muzzy" as he was affectionately called, was a larger-than-life presence at the high school.  He worked tirelessly on behalf of the athletes at OA and it is very fitting that the tournament is named in his honor. I am so happy to support these kids who are learning to love the game of basketball.”

Here’s the list of winning teams:

Boys 4A            Mansfield           

Boys 4B            Stoughton

Boys 5A            E. Greenwich           

Boys 5B            Wachusett           

Boys 6A            Marshfield          

Boys 6B            Westwood        

Boys 7A            Hanover

Boys 7B            Stoughton       

Boys 8A            Shrewsbury

Boys 8B            Franklin           

Girls 4A            Franklin     

Girls 6A            Norwell      

Girls 6B            Franklin

Girls 7A            Westport

Girls 8A            Brockton

Girls 8B            Shrewsbury