Barrington Area Library notes

Basketball brought Matt Kenney and Sean McCurtain together. They shared the victories, the defeats, the thrill of competition, the joy of working together on a team.

So it's not surprising that it is to basketball that McCurtain turned, in an effort to honor his late friend, Matt, and help fund a scholarship in his name.

The Matt Kenney Memorial "3 on 3" Basketball Tournament will be held starting at 10 a.m. Sept. 22 at Geneva High School, 416 McKinley Ave. McCurtain calls it the "first annual," because he has every intention of this competition becoming a yearly event.

Registration is still open for the event. Cost is $75 a team, limited to five players each. All proceeds benefit the Matt Kenney Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Matt, a 2002 graduate of Geneva High School, had been in the Air Force and was contemplating college plans when he was killed in an automobile accident in the fall of 2004.

In the aftermath of the crash, Matt's parents created a scholarship in his name. Two $500 scholarships -- one to a boy and one to a girl -- are awarded each spring to GHS graduating seniors.

"We were great friends though high school," said McCurtain, a 2001 grad. "We played on the basketball team together -- that's how we got to know each other.

"Given his love for basketball, we figured this tournament would be a good way to raise money and remember his name."

So, this tournament is something that Matt himself would enjoy?

"It is," confirmed McCurtain. "He'd really like this."

McCurtain is gratified by the community response to his idea. "About two months ago I sent an e-mail out to friends, as kind of a feeler, to see about support. That in turn got forwarded to a bunch of people," with offers of assistance pouring in with each message.

"I've gotten a ton of e-mails from people I don't even know -- family friends and friends of friends -- with offers of water, help, all kinds of things," McCurtain said.

Burger King and the Chiropractic People are acting as corporate sponsors. And, McCurtain said, GHS Principal Tom Rogers and Athletic Director Jim Kafer also have been a big help.

In a "3 on 3" tournament, only three players, instead of the traditional five, play on a half-court. Players score one point per basket, with two points awarded for baskets shot from outside the normal three-point arc. Games will last 20 minutes, on a running clock. "The first team who gets 15 points or whoever's winning at 20 minutes wins the game," McCurtain said.

The tournament is double-elimination, with each team guaranteed to play at least two games. Depending on the age of participants, McCurtain is even thinking of multiple age divisions, though that decision is still up in the air.

McCurtain has no particular monetary goal in mind for this first venture. He just doesn't know how things will shake out.

"My theory this whole time has kind of been that any cent we make for the scholarship fund is one more cent than we had before."

To participate, interested people may call McCurtain at (630) 421-0095, or send an email to Mattkenney3on3@yahoo.com.