Class Acts Wins New England's Oldest Hoop Tournament for the 2nd Year in a Row
Woodsville NH
Class Acts of Portland, Maine took the trophies from the 65th Cohase Lions Annual New England Amateur Basketball Tournament back to the pine tree state for the second year in a row thanks to the help of 6'10" big man Jay Brewer.

The tournament, held every year since 1938, features the best of New Englands mens basketball teams. Loaded up with regional talent from the play grounds to Division 1 colleges, the teams converge on Woodsville every year to sell out crowds at the Woodsville Community Center. The 2003 annual tournament did not disappoint anyone.

"Its really the event of the winter, everbody looks forward to the tourney." said Jim Walker the tournament organizer for the last ten years."The kids get autographs, the adults enjoy the competive games and the Lions Club gets the proceeds from our sevice fund. It has become our major fund-raising project and we just love it."

Class Acts, one of New England's best known mens teams, successfully defended their 2002 title by defeating The Coaches Corner of Burlington Vermont, 80-74 in front of a packed house. Jay Brewer originally from Seattle Washington, took home several trophies including the tourney MVP. Brewer had an impressive 39 points, showing his talents with three three pointers, 5 for 8 from the line and a dozen from the floor. Bart Donovan, former UVM standout and all tourney selection, added 16. Al Hamilton had 21 for Coaches Corner.

Calss Acts advanced to the finals by defeating Fisher Plow 94-72 in a Sunday afternoon semi-final match, and by eliminating Fired Up Pizza of Manchester NH on Friday night 96-83.

"We ended up winning Friday by 13 points but the does not indicate how close that game was, " said Bill Simpson of Class Acts. " They shot lights out but fortunately for us they ran out of gas with five minutes to go. The outcome could have been very different. We played a very good team."

Class Acts has been a team since 1976, with Simpson being the last remaining player from the original squad. "Others (players) stay very involved. Once we decide you fit in, you're stuck with us til death do us part...or you get married and have kids," Simpson said without cracking a smile. "It's sort of the same thing."

Other players on the Championship team include Mike Boissinneau, Jim Cole, John Fitts, Jamie Header (all tourney team), Jason Jabar (sixth man award), and Lance Meader.

"Class Acts is just what their name means", says Gloria Blaisdell, a new fan of the team. "They haven't been coming here that long, but we look forward to them coming back next year."

Notes: Coaches Corner last won the tournament in 1999. Giant Glass of Boston were Champions in 2000 and 20001. Before that Marge's Kitchen of Coventry RI won five years in a row from 1994 through 1998. It truly is a New England Tournament.