Nearly 75 basketball teams from over a half-dozen states will be converging on Henryetta March 16 through 18.

The 14th annual Madness in March basketball tournament will be held at both Henryetta high school and middle school gymnasiums as high school-aged competitors hit the hardwoods.

According to event coordinator David Pascale, the Henryetta location was chosen because of the access to teams from as far away as Mississippi and South Dakota.
He said the event will start off Wednesday evening with a “College Prep Fair.” At that time the players will have an opportunity to visit with a number of college and university representatives.

The tournament will climax Friday night with a championship game as well as special coaches’ game and all-star match.
“This started in Dewar 14 years ago but we outgrew it and moved to Henryetta,” Pascale said. He said the tournament really grew after the new gymnasium was opened. “We had over 2,000 people in the gym on the night of the finals.

Pascale said the tournament is a boost to the Henryetta economy with all the motel rooms booked and teams going to the various restaurants.

A version of the tournament was held at the school this past November during the Thanksgiving break. That tournament had students from 5 through 12 years of age making up 82 teams.
Most of the 14 years have seen the tournament here but the organization, “4 the Love of the Game,” moved to Durant in 2011 and 2012.
Pascale said he would rather see the event held here because of the central location. He pointed out that “some of the players may not know where Tulsa is but they know all about Henryetta because of how well they have been treated here.”