FOXBORO – The substantial expansion of the Wally Seaver High School Invitational over the last decade has opened the floor for basketball teams from six different states to show off their skills within a massive pool, all in the name of fundraising to fight amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
A year after falling short in one of the finals in 2024, Trinity (N.H.) traveled almost 100 miles one-way to seal the deal in the invitational’s 14th edition of its “main event” Sunday afternoon at Mass Premier Courts.
Trinity went unbeaten in pool play of the Blue Division before topping Attleboro in the semifinals and Mansfield in the championship, 53-45. Jordan Torres led the team in scoring in the final game with 17 points.
“There’s definitely a sense of pride to take care of business,” Torres said. “Last year we came here, we made it to the championship and we came up short. This year, we really wanted to take it home for our school. … It’s a very good tournament.”
Trinity was one of six teams crowned champions at Mass Premier Courts, which split the load with Dana Barros Basketball Club to host 134 teams over 11 different divisions in the invitational’s biggest year yet. Between this “Main Event” and the Wally Seaver HS Invitational’s new “North Event” it ran in June, the once 16-team tournament has become the largest interscholastic summer basketball tournament in New England with over 150 teams.
Invitational founder and director Paul Seaver intends to run the numbers of how much was fundraised on Monday. But as of Sunday, he was optimistic and hopeful the total would be between $15,000 and $20,000 – which would be a new high. That money will be donated to the invitational’s partner, The Pete Frates ALS Foundation.
“I’m thrilled,” Seaver said. “The storyline is more so a thank you, on our end, to St. John’s Prep, to Mass Premier Courts, to the Dana Barros Basketball Club, to all the officials that participate and work. All the teams, all the coaches, all the players, all the parents.”
“Us expanding and us growing year in and year out isn’t possible without everybody coming together,” he continued. “We can’t do this without a whole collaboration from so many different people. … It’s just so awesome to see (so many) coming together to help what’s turned into an amazing event I never dreamed of when we started this, for obviously an amazing cause.”
Trinity was the only champion from out of state, though it nearly had an opportunity in the Blue Division for an all-New Hampshire final against Portsmouth – which narrowly lost to Mansfield in the semifinals.
“There’s so many different states in this tournament,” Torres said. “Just from all over New England and New York. Bringing it home for New Hampshire means a lot. … I was super tired in (the championship) but I still wanted to come out on top, push through.”
Chicopee Comprehensive defeated Shepherd Hill in the Orange Division’s championship. St. Mary’s of Lynn topped Canton in the Green Division, and Greater Lawrence bested Old Rochester in the Black Division.
Originally Published:
