The Echevarria family has long been known in the Lynn area for their exploits on the basketball court, but they are now aiming to be known just as much for their exploits off the court with “Gloria’s Basketball Tournament,” a fundraising basketball tournament in honor of Gloria Echevarria, that is now in its second year.
“We just wanted to do something to honor our mother, and we thought, ‘what better way to do it than with a basketball tournament,” said Elizabeth Echevarria, Gloria’s daughter. “She was such a presence in all of our basketball lives growing up, and she loved the game so much.”
Gloria was a mainstay at the Fecteau-Leary School gymnasium, the former home of Lynn Classical basketball, to watch her four kids play throughout their basketball careers. So when it came time to decide where to hold the tournament, it was a no-brainer for the family.
“We could’ve held the tournament anywhere, at Classical or St. Mary’s or something, but we wanted to have it at Fecteau-Leary,” Echevarria said. “We felt that it would be the best way to honor her legacy, and looking up in those stands this weekend will remind us of her.”
As for the structure of the tournament, there will be 16 teams made up of men ages 21 and older and will be held on August 12 and 13. Games will start on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. and go until 7 p.m., then Sunday’s games will start at 11 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. It is a single-elimination tournament, and the team left standing at the end will take home a trophy and a prize. While there are multiple Lynn teams in the tournament, teams from all over Massachusetts (Lawrence, Haverhill, Roxbury, Dorchester, Boston) and even as far away as Springfield, Conn. will be competing. Echevarria also says that she wants to eventually expand the tournament to field women’s teams as well.
“It’s going to be a great couple of days of basketball for sure,” said Echevarria.
But Echevarria, who played on the girls basketball team at Classical, also stresses that basketball isn’t the only reason to come to the tournament, saying that it is really an event to bring the community together.
“This is a community event, we want everyone to come and enjoy,” she said. “The admission is free, we’ll be giving away prizes and bracelets in my mom’s honor, and it will really be a fun day for everyone.”
The tournament will also be giving away a scholarship this weekend, awarding a $500 scholarship to Lynn Classical’s Priscill Alouidor. Alouidor, a recent Classical graduate who starred on the Rams girls basketball team that made a run in Division 2 North state tournament this past winter, will be attending Boston College starting in September and will be present at both days of the tournament.
“We’re very happy to be able to give away a scholarship to Priscill, and she’s excited to receive it,” said Echevarria. “We’re glad she’ll be able to join us this weekend.”