Youth tourney set

WASILLA — The Wasilla Assembly of God Youth Organization will be hosting a combination three-on-three basketball tournament, barbecue and all-around fun day at Wasilla Wonderland Park Aug. 18.

It will be the organization's first annual tourney.

The group hopes it will become a tradition and get bigger every year.

"Next year we hope to have both basketball and volleyball at the same time," youth volunteer Christy Stafford said.

Thirty-two teams are scheduled to play in the double elimination contest. The top three teams will get medals. The next five will get prizes.

The cost to enter is $15 per team. The deadline for registration, which is limited to ages 13-18, is Aug. 16. Play begins at 11 a.m. with the championship game scheduled for 5:30 p.m..

"The value of the prizes will be at least as much as the teams paid in," youth pastor Nathan Lopez said.

There will be an awards ceremony and grand prize drawing at 6 p.m. Awards will be presented to the athletes by Wasilla Mayor Sarah Palin.

At the free barbecue, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., prizes will be given away every half hour. A DJ will be on hand to entertain athletes and guests.

"Our whole idea was to have something of high quality for the youth of the Valley, a large event that everyone can come to and walk away saying they had a great time," Lopez said.

Lopez said he and another youth had the idea for the event.

"It started out small and kept getting bigger and bigger," he said. "We kept adding things. We planned for 500 people at first, now it's up to 1,500. It's cool to see our youth and staff thinking really big."

The youth group will have a registration table set up at the Wonderland Park basketball courts this week.

People can sign up today from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Wednesday from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.; and Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon. Parents must sign a consent form allowing their children to play.