Charlestown Wins Community Basketball Tournament

A group of teens from Charlestown were victorious last week in the first annual Community Basketball Tournament organized by the District A-1 Community Service Office of the Boston Police Department.

Chinatown and Charlestown and the North End put together teams which consisted of teenagers from each neighborhood. Each team was also given three District A-1 police officers who would play with the neighborhood teens.

The first game of the evening pitted the teens from North End against the teens from Chinatown. The winner of this match-up would play against Charlestown for the championship.

The championship game featured Charlestown vs. Chinatown.   Charlestown had been favored to win the tournament. They had been the only team that earlier in the summer.

In the championship game, Chinatown quickly shook off their underdog status and gave Charlestown a battle from the start. After a valiant effort, the fatigue factor took over and Charlestown pulled away. The final score was 57 to 46. Chinatown was lead by Officer Mark Loewen who scored 13 points. The Charlestown team was lead by Randy Gambaro who poured in a tournament high 16 points.

At the end of the championship game, Charlestown was presented the first place trophy. Trophies were also presented to Chinatown as the runner up and the North End for the third place finish.

The event was held at The Sports Club/LA located at 4 Avery St., sponsored by Christine Dunn and John Ciolfi of the Millennium Place Primary Condominium Ritz-Carlton Hotel & Towers, Boston Common.

Sponsors provided the teams with jerseys, pizza, drinks and a cake baked by the hotel's pastry chef. t the end of the championship game, Charlestown was presented the first place trophy. Trophies were also presented to Chinatown as the runner up and the North End for the third place finish.