What started out as a weekend event to help remember a former minor, junior high, high school and provincial team program coach has suddenly morphed into one of the highlights on the high school basketball calendar, not to mention a big financial contributor to the Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Care Foundation.
The sixth annual Keith Keating Memorial high school boys and girls basketball tournament opens today at four gyms in and around St. John’s, with 32 teams taking part.
Eight teams each are pegged for each of the boys’ Tier I, II and III divisions. Teams are lumped together in the Tier II and III groupings at the outset and will be reclassified following the first games.
There are also eight teams in the girls’ division.
“Most of the kids playing now didn’t really know my dad, but they know his story. That’s very satisfying.”
Adam Keating
But the big number with the Keating tournament is 91,000, as in $91,000 it has raised in its first five years of existence.
That means this year’s event will push the total amount of money raised to north of $100,000.
The tournament is the brainchild of Adam Keating, Keith Keating’s son, although he receives a lot of help from his mother, Eileen, and brother, Alex.
Keith Keating was well known in basketball for his commitment to the Mount Pearl house and club programs, St. Peter’s Junior High program, O’Donel High Patriots and the Newfoundland and Labrador Basketball Association’s provincial team program.
He lost a four-year battle to cancer in 2013.
“This tournament has been one of the single biggest events in the province the last number of years,” Adam Keating said. “And while I can’t say for certain, I believe it’s one of the biggest in Atlantic Canada.
“It’s pretty cool to see teams look to get into it before it’s even advertised.”
Even before the first tip-off, Keating has already pre-sold almost 200 tournament T-shirts.
“And most of the kids playing now didn’t really know my dad, but they know his story. That’s very satisfying.”
Keating receives a lot of help putting off the tournament, but did single out Val Hodder, Julie Croucher and Brad Ducey – in addition to his mom and brother – for their contributions to the cause.
At least another 40 to 50 people are helping volunteer, everything from scoring the game and keeping clock, to cleanup.
Gyms used for the tournament are at O’Donel and St. Peter’s Junior High in Mount Pearl, and Waterford Valley High and Gonzaga High School in St. John’s.
Twitter: @telysports
