The first Don Mensendick Memorial Junior High Boys Basketball Tournament was held in January of 1975 at Apollo High School with eight teams entered. The highgest number of entries was in 1998 with 46 teams entered. Over the years there have been teams from Tuscon, Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Scottsdale, West Sedona and Bradshaw Mountain along with the schools from the immediate Glendale area. In 1995 the tournament began a two-division set-up with an A and B bracket determined by schools above and blow 350 in their 7th and 8th grade enrollments. In 2001 for the first time the tournament added a third bracket. The "A Division" is for schools over 500, the "B Division" with schools between 200 and 500, and the "C Division" with schools under 199 students in thge 7th and 8th grades. Over the years the Glendale Elementary School District and Glendale Parks and Recreation Department have worked together to provide the best possible basketball experience for the boys on entered teams.
2001 Tournament Participants:
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Akimel A-al (Kyrene District) |
Pueblo del Sol (Isaac District) |
Squaw Peak (Creighton District) |
Royal Palm (Washington District) |
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Landmark (Glendale District) |
Mountain Sky (Washington District) |
Deer Valley (Deer Valley District) |
Supai (Scottsdale District) |
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Desert Foothills (Washington District) |
Cholla (Washington District) |
Challenger (Glendale District) |
Hillcrest (Deer Valley District) |
Road to the Championship:
(Click on any picture to see a larger version)
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The last minute instructions. |
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Wilson taking the ball to the hole early on. |
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And one! |
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Matt shoots over their big man. |
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Johnny drills a shot. |
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Matt pushing the ball up court on the attack. |
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