Deadline Nears for Basketball Tournament Honoring Beloved Woodside Resident

Tommy Ashton was a life-long Woodside resident and a particularly beloved member of the community. In fact, a block in the Big Six apartment complex is named “Thomas J. Asthon Way.” Plus, a playground there honors this 21-year-old, who died on his second day of work as an electrician’s apprentice with IBEW Local 3 at the World Trade Center’s Tower One on 9/11. His legacy also lives on with The Thomas Ashton Foundation, which his family established to provide charitable donations to academic institutions and nonprofit organizations. Then there’s the annual three-on-three basketball tournament with a men’s open, women’s open and men’s 40-and-over divisions. This year, the 12th annual competition will take place on April 25th and April 26th at the usual venue, the St. Sebastian Parish Center on 57th Street off Woodside Avenue, but the registration deadline is April 1 for all teams. The double-elimination format guarantees that every squad plays at least two games, and the entire weekend has the spirit of friendly competition for a worthy cause — and in honor of a great guy. Plus, there’s an after party once the tournament ends (around 7 pm on April 26th) at the CWV Post 870 on 61st Street off Roosevelt Avenue.

Details: 2014 Tommy Ashton 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, St. Sebastian Parish Center, 39-60 57th Street, Woodside, April 25th (men’s over 40 division) and April 26th (men’s open and women’s open divisions), $150 fee per team includes team shirts and refreshments (3-5 players per team), proper photo ID with date of birth is mandatory for participants in all divisions. All proceeds go to the foundation.

Photos: Tommy Ashton Foundation