In March, Joey Artioli and his friend Jackson Walters, both Suffield High freshmen and long-time basketball buddies, cleared away the last of the big snowfall to prepare the outdoor basketball court for (5) 3 vs 3 tournaments they set up with some friends. Just like the NCAA tournaments, the games are scheduled and bracketed as they progress. The pair spent eight hours on a weekend and the following Monday shoveling the snow with help from a few friends.
On Monday, the day before the start of the games, they broke a shovel. Undeterred and still needing to finish the job, Joey and Jackson walked to Suffield Hardware to buy a shovel, with their parents unaware. On Tuesday, with temperatures in the 70s, most of the remaining snow just melted away. It is great to see the kids outside working together to get the courts ready.
Photo by Joe Artiole
High school basketball buddies, Jackson Walters and Joey Artioli.