With Summer Tourney, Newhallville Gets Right

Basketballs soared in the air. Stuntin’ Is A Habit played on the loud speaker. Families competed in spades. And grill smoke ignited the crowd’s appetites. 

That was the scene on Shelton Avenue Sunday for the latest installment of Newhallville Neighborhood Corporation’s 20th annual summer basketball games, which occupied Lincoln Bassett Park for the entire day. 

Sunday completed the fourth week of the Sunday games. The final team tournament combined with a back-to-school giveaway is scheduled for Aug. 14. 

“This is unity,” New Haven native and event organizer Gary Gates said. ​“It ties the city together when these kids can find others just like them.”

It was a 10-hour community celebration both on and off the court, part of a summer Sunday tradition in Newhallville.

What started as a basketball-infused neighborhood reunion organized by Gates two decades ago has now become an annual health and wellness gathering hosted by the nonprofit for the community to enjoy being outdoors with family and friends. 

Neighbors joined together in lawn chairs lined along the fences of the basketball court to watch 14 teams compete. Players ranged from middle schoolers to athletes 30 and over. 

As director of the nonprofit hosting the event, Gates said, he looks forward each year to organizing the weekly summer competitions and final tournament for the community.

More than 100 community members joined the basketball games and cookout in the park this Sunday. Younger children played nearby on the playground and splash pad, or tossed a football, danced, and played tag in the field. 

Dozens of the players have been coached by Gates since they were in elementary school. 

While players sat to the side of the court waiting for their team to play, New Haven police officers passed out ice-cold water bottles to the athletes. Along the fence a sign read, ​“Stop the Violence.” 

“My hidden agenda is for six weeks to save these people,” Gates said.

While hot dogs, hamburgers, and fish were cooking, families made donations to support the nonprofit’s upcoming back to school giveaway. 

Gates recalled playing on the same courts as a child and coaching others there. The event is a tradition originally started by David Durham, who hosted summer tournaments on the courts before Gates decided to carry on the tradition. 

Players ranged from schoolteachers to professional basketball players.

Several have played with Gates since they were 10 years old and are now in their 20s or 30s. Others played with Gates while he coached the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) CT Heat basketball team. 

Players like Malique Cue, 26, have played in Gates’ summer tournaments for more than a decade. 

Cue, a Hillhouse High School grad, described basketball as his favorite hobby. He said he has looked forward to joining the Newhallville Neighborhood Corporation tournaments every year since he was in high school.

“Every Sunday is like a family reunion,” Cue said. 

Basketball has not only given Cue a daily hobby but has provided him with lifelong friendships and a lesson in learning to work with others. 

“Without basketball, I wouldn’t know half of the people I know,” he said. 

Cue grew up on Division Street. He has always relied on the Lincoln Bassett Park to play basketball, describing it as his backyard. While on the court he enjoys learning how to work around new and different personalities, he said. ​“You see when people catch attitudes and what they get sensitive about.” 

This year Cue played on ​“Team Ballie.” They finished their last game Sunday up by 20 points.

Cue said he’s so dedicated to the summer tournaments that he organizes his work schedule around the games to be sure he doesn’t miss a Sunday reunion. 

He described Gates as a father figure and role model.

“This was the best thing to ever happen to me,” he said. ​“In New Haven you can’t always find somewhere where there won’t be negativity. But here I know I’m safe, and there won’t be drama.”

Gates made sure each team included players of varying ages who could learn from each other on and off the court. 

“The mix of talents is what will make the younger kids learn better when they try out for a high school team,” Gates said. 

In addition to the summer tournament, Gates’ nonprofit hosts drill practices, community vs fire and police basketball games, and vendor events at the park. 

Professional basketball player Taurus Adams, 24, returned to Hamden this summer after playing overseas in Australia and Spain. 

Adams, a Southern Connecticut State University grad, enjoyed a fish sandwich Suday after playing a winning game, as he has for the several years. 

While playing ball and hanging with friends at the event, Adams took some breaks to talk with some of the younger basketball players. He encouraged them to work hard, listen to their coach, and to always put school first. 

While some brought lawn chairs to watch games from the sidelines, other stood with fingers interlocked in the court fence, and peeked through the holes to watch. 

A DJ played a variety of tunes from underneath a tent set beside the courts. 

“I think I’m going to play all Connecticut music for the next hour,” the DJ yelled. 

Songs from local artists like Young Klean, Lee Bezel, and Young ghost rumbled through Newhallville. 

The games went on from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Members of the crowd occasionally called out, ​“Where’s the foul ref?” and ​“Dunk it!” 

When a player took a fall, a rough play happened, or a player shot an air ball, the crowd gasped in unison. 

Father-son duo James and Bryson Williams sat in lawn chairs just at the edge of the court watching Bryson’s two cousins play.

This was the second year the two came to the tournament to ​“enjoy something positive in the community.” 

Bryson, who lives in the Hill, plays basketball and wanted to join his father to learn from his cousins. James offered an occasional tip or two to his son during the games. 

Gates watched each game from the sidelines, occasionally jumping on the court with the youth to shoot a few baskets during half time or a timeout. 

The final Sunday game was between two undefeated teams called team ​“Get Right” and the ​“Young Kings.” 

The final game went into overtime after reaching a tie at 52 – 52, headed for ​“the longest three minutes of the day.”

During the three-minute overtime, the score remained close. The crowd remained at the edge of their seats. 

At 1 minute and 37 seconds, the teams reached another tie: 54 to 54.

Then team Get Right scored and brought the score to 55 to 54 at 1 minute 10 seconds.

At 40 seconds the Young Kings took the lead by one point …

… until team Get Right took the lead with only 19 seconds left, bringing the score to 57 to 56.

The teams then reached another tie with 14 seconds left. Many assumed they would have to go into another overtime.

After a brief timeout, the teams took the court for the final 14 seconds. Team Get Right took the lead with a two-pointer.

The Young Kings attempted to come back at four seconds left with an attempted three pointer. The shot missed — and Team Get Right was declared the winners.