Staples Girls Basketball Hosts Their First Summer Slam Jam
On August 22nd, the Staples Girls Basketball program hosted its first Summer Slam Jam 3 on 3 tournament at Staples High School. The tournament was held from 9am-2:30pm for grades 3-8. In addition to the tournament, the youth players participated in three point contests and skills challenges with hopes of winning each respective trophy! Over 60 youth basketball players participated in the event and had the opportunity to meet players and coaches from the Staples Girls Basketball Program. It was a fun filled day of competition and was a great day to bring the community together.
contributed photos.
Wreckers Varsity Head Coach Tommy Sparks, left and Assistant Coach Tara Bennett and the Staples Girls Basketball Team with the 3rd/4th grade Summer Slam Jam participants. Coach Sparks led the Wreckers to 2nd place in the FCIAC last year and the semi-finals of the Division II State Championship. He is working to train players to reach varsity level skills.
Above, left, Staples Girls Basketball players Kennedy Do(center) and Presley Heyer (right) pose with a few of the contest participants and above right, Assistant Coach Tara Bennett, Varsity Captain Chloe Smith ('24-25 1st Team All FCIAC, '25-26 2nd Team All FCIAC) , Assistant Coach Jim O'Donoghue all helped run the event.
Head Coach Sparks described the event this way: “The boys team has utilized this is as a fundraiser for their program. We decided to emulate it for the girls and try it this summer. It was a great opportunity to raise money for the program and also created excitement within the basketball community in town. It allowed youth players to interact with current HS players and build connections between the youth and HS programs. We pride ourselves on establishing synergy within the entire basketball community from the rec level to the HS level. Other schools may not do exactly this. They have their own ideas of how to raise money for their programs. We decided to utilize this because it also gives parents an opportunity to see their kids compete in a fun-filled day at their future school".
Coach Sparks told WestportLocalPress, “Fundraising goes towards pre-game attire, basketball supplies, pre-game meals and extracurricular team activities. Generally, the school has a flat rate of funding. We just raise the difference for everything we need.”
Above: At the conclusion of the 3 on 3 games, girls had the opportunity to compete in a skills contest and 3 point shooting contest.
Head Coach Tommy Sparks, Asst. Coach Tara Bennett and the Staples Girls Basketball Program with some of the 5th/6th Grade participants.