This year's Red Kettle Classic basketball tournament posted a new high in community involvement, according to the event's founder.
"We had more people turn out than we ever had before, " said David Prown, who launched the competition nine years ago. "A greater number showed up, and a larger part of those who did stay longer."
The day-long Classic, sponsored by United Teletech Financial, which has provided the necessary funding since the event's beginning, was played at The Salvation Army's Jane H. Booker Community Center on Newman Springs Road.
Boys and girls team from six schools took part. In the large-school competition were: Shrewsbury Boro, Forrestdale in Rumson, Knollwood in Fair Haven and Holy Cross in Rumson. Red Bank Charter and Seashore from Long Branch played for the small-school titles.
The defending champion Knollwood girls team defeated their opening-round opponent, Shrewsbury, and then beat Forrestdale, which had topped Holy Cross to get to the finals.
On the large-school boys side, defending champion Holy Cross rolled past Knollwood to take on Shrewsbury, which got by Forrestdale. Holy Cross then edged Shrewsbury 40-36.
In the small-school division, the Seashore girls team captured the trophy for the third year in a row by beating Red Bank.
In the nightcap, the Red Bank Charter School boys team won the title for the fourth consecutive year, topping Seashore 39-20.
Written by Bill Neubeck
