News Journal’s fourth annual NIBROC 3-on-3 basketball tournament set to take place Aug 13

With summer now in full swing, it won’t be long before the annual NIBROC festival returns once again to downtown Corbin. The yearly celebration always includes several sporting events, and in 2016 the News Journal’s 3-on-3 basketball tournament will be returning for it’s fourth installment.

A total of eight teams participated in the inaugural tournament in 2013, with Team Buckets (Tyler Wagner, Isaac Wilson, Travis Raper and Madison Johnson) being crowned the first-ever champions, receiving plaques and $150 dollars in prize money.

Interest grew between 2013 and 2014, with an additional ten teams showing up to compete in the second annual 3-on-3 tourney. Team Buckets (Wagner, Johnson, Wilson, Travis Cowden and TJ Jones) advanced through the 18-team bracket to make it back to the tournament finals, where they would meet up with newcomers The Colonels (Josh Crawford, Josh Jewell and Blake Buckman).

The competition was fierce in the 2014 finale, but in the end it was The Colonels who were able to knock off the defending champs, earning the championship trophies and an increased cash prize of $300.

2015 saw a similar situation arise, with the defending champion Colonels (Crawford, Blake Buckman and Jared McClain) falling to newcomers The Gators (Corey Shelton, Cejay Jones and Aaron Cunningham) in the championship game. Continuing the trend of previous years, last year’s champs walked away with an increased cash prize of $400, as well as first place trophies and a number of other prizes, such as coupons and gift cards to several local area businesses.

Thanks to the generous support of tournament sponsors, no players participating in the tournament in recent years have walked away empty-handed. Everyone has received prize packs just for signing up, with the second and first place teams receiving additional prizes and awards.

It has already been announced that the cash prize for winning the 2016 NIBROC 3-on-3 tournament will be $500, and the goal is to once again give each participant a prize pack simply for showing up.

If you would like to enter this year’s tourney, contact News Journal Publisher Trent Knuckles at 606-215-9944. Complete rules and registration forms can also be found online at www.facebook.com/nibroc3on3.

After signing up ($50 entry fee per team), mark the date of Saturday, August 13 on your calendar. Be at the Princess Vermillion McBurney Recreation Center at noon on that day, and see if you and your teammates have what it takes to be crowned as the champions of the fourth annual News Journal NIBROC 3-on-3 basketball tournament!