DARE 3-on-3 Basketball: Everyone Wins

The annual elementary age 3-on-3 basketball tournament hosted by Clarkstown D.A.R.E. at Felix Festa Middle School in West Nyack on Saturday was about family fun as much as it was about basketball.

"This is just a great event. It promotes teamwork and the spirit of competition, but it also gives parents a chance to watch their kids give their all in a one-day tournament," said Clarkstown Councilman Frank Borelli of New City. "The best thing is we get to see the positive interaction between the youth of this community and the local police."

Students from elementary schools in the Clarkstown, Nyack and Nanuet school districts had a chance to compete in Saturday's tournament.

Rather than an entry fee, the DARE basketball tournament asks for three cans of food from each team. The food is donated to People to People in Nanuet, Rockland County's largest food pantry, which helps thousands of Rocklanders get through difficult times each year.

Liberty Elementary School of Valley Cottage hoisted the trophy for the boys when it was all said and done. For the girls, it was Laurel Plains Elementary of New City winning over West Nyack to take the girls championship for 2010.

"I've been involved in this for 10 years now," said Clarkstown Det. Sgt. Tim O'Neill, supervisor of the DARE program. "This is an opportunity for children who don't normally get a chance to compete athletically. It gives them a day to have fun, learn about teamwork and give it their all."

Parents, children and DARE officers were all smiles in the Felix Festa gymnasium on Saturday. Swish!