North Central Missouri College Development Director Steve Maxeytalked about the annual High School Holiday Hoops event during Thursday’s Trenton Rotary meeting. Tina Capeder was the program chairman.
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Next month’s event will establish records in terms of the number of boys and girls teams, Missouri high schools and basketball games. Nine days have been reserved this year for holiday hoops at the Ketcham Community Center. Participating will be 79 teams from 44 high schools. There will be 56 basketball games over a nine day period. While the specific head to head schedule is still being finalized, plans call for four games per night Dec. 20-23, then eight games per day and night from Dec. 27-31. Maxey stated it is the largest basketball event in Missouri and is believed to be the largest of any in the midwestern United States.
Maxey said the event draws numerous visitors and prospective students to see Trenton and the community college from many different locations, some of whom have never been to Trenton.
The multiple days event in the latter part of December has three goals, according to Maxey: to market NCMC for student enrollment; to provide quality entertainment during the holidays; and to be an economic boost to Trenton. While it may be difficult to put a dollar value on the marketing,
Maxey offered some examples of the success. He was told 18 of 22 graduating seniors at Green City had planned to attend NCMC because of their campus visit and experience in previous holiday hoops.
Maxey noted many restaurants look forward to the event bringing additional customers to Trenton.
Maxey said holiday hoops also needs 350 to 400 volunteers to serve in various capacities including as hosts, scorekeepers, time-keepers, ticket takers and the hospitality room. Members of the basketball teams received a complimentary t-shirt with a holiday hoops logo and year, names of participating schools and sponsors.
While the KCC will host lots of high school basketball before and after Christmas, Maxey said the walking track and fitness room there will remain open during the games.
Maxey concluded his remarks by offering thanks for the many volunteers who’ll be helping with the shootout as well as for the numerous businesses that buy ads for the Holiday Hoops program guide.
There was one guest during Thursday’s meeting with Anna Persell introduced as the new superintendent at Crowder State Park near Trenton.
Kerry Sampson handed out the 2010 Trenton Parks Survey for Rotary Club members to fill out.
Club President Phil Hoffman recognized the 11 persons who represented Trenton at the Rotary District 6040 dinner last Saturday night in the Kansas City area. Russell Joiner was sergeant of arms. Scott Forman gave the invocation. Elizabeth Gibson played the piano while Rotary Club members sang four verses of “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” in honor of Veteran’s Day.
Next week’s program chairman is Scott Long.