By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

The 11th annual Bailey Simons Memorial Alumni Basketball Tournament is scheduled for Saturday at Rootstown High School and Rootstown Middle School.

The tournament is set for a 3 p.m. start in both buildings and will feature eight teams this season.

Mogadore is the event’s reigning champion, defeating Waterloo in the title game last year.

The Wildcats are back this year to defend their championship and other teams include: Crestwood, Field, Garfield, Kent Roosevelt, Rootstown, Streetsboro and Waterloo.

First-round games are scheduled for 3 and 4 p.m., with semifinal games at 5 p.m. and the championship game at 6 p.m.

Tickets are $5 at the door, with free admission for senior citizens and any child 5 and under.

All proceeds raised from the tournament are directly donated to the Bailey Simons/Frank Family Scholarship, which is coordinated by The Portage Foundation.

Simons was a Rootstown High School student, who died in an automobile crash in February 2015.

Since the tournament’s inception, it has acted as the scholarship’s primary sponsor and has raised close to $30,000.

To date, 26 scholarships have been awarded to graduating Rootstown seniors.

The schedule for the 2026 tournament includes:

FIRST ROUND

High School

• Crestwood vs. Garfield, 3 p.m.
• Mogadore vs. Rootstown, 4 p.m.

Middle School

• Kent Roosevelt vs. Waterloo, 3 p.m.
• Streetsboro vs. Field, 4 p.m.

SEMIFINAL

High School

• Crestwood-Garfield winner vs. Mogadore-Rootstown winner, 5 p.m.

Middle School

• Kent Roosevelt-Waterloo winner vs. Streetsboro-Field winner, 5 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

High School

• Teams TBD, 6 p.m.

The team rosters are:

   • CRESTWOOD: Matt Czerny, Aaron Czerny, Blaze Angle, Mason Angle, Cole Fannin, Mason Jakacki, Trent Jakacki, Austin Johnson, Dekota Johnson, Steven Lincoln, James Durham, Angelo Dinardo.

   • FIELD: Caleb Wohlwend, Jacob Gartner, Caleb Gartner, Bryson Silveus, Jake Lupardus, Jaheim James, Nick Papiska.

   • GARFIELD: Trystan Gedeon, Preston Gedeon, Bill Festko, Nate Pitsinger, Isaiah Patton, Evan Janic, Nick Edic, Aidan Hill.

   • KENT ROOSEVELT: Ryan Slocum, Carter Foreman, Dave Rogers, Marcus Wright, Kevin Ina, Eddie Calhoun, Nero Bryant, Ernie Cobbin, Omara Kazadi, Jaden Dennison.

   • MOGADORE: Zedekiah Pollock, Corey Lehner, David Wolverton, Kody Jaber, Stephen Stott, Lukas Swartz, Kole Jaber, Nick Coffman, Kyle Coffman, Layne Miller.

   • ROOTSTOWN: Adam Bailey, Jay Buso, Donny Birkett, Xavier Birkett, Adam Whitacre, Nick Wancik, Aiden Rodstrom, Joe Weaver, TJ Riggie, Shawn Finch, Tom Nader.

   • STREETSBORO: Trevor Murray, Charles Ivory, Jashaun Lawrence, Jerry Judd, Preston Laryea, Tommy Stockard, Ty Butler, Jack Batten, Avery Van Reeth, Jared Tucker.

   • WATERLOO: Dale Miller, Luke Simons, Kyle Shockley, Caleb Francis, Gavin English, Ryan Wise, Andy Snyder, Cam Shockley, Jackson Eichler, Navarre Alhassan.

As the tournament’s reigning champions, Mogadore receives the honor of playing in purple jerseys as a special way to honor and remember Simons and her favorite color.