Basketball ace Cory Thompson was unable to organise the annual Rodney Bodden three-on-three memorial tournament this year but has promised that when it returns in the summer it will more than make up for last month’s cancellation.
Rodney Bodden died from sudden heart failure, aged 16, in 1996 and as a tribute, Thompson who was a good friend, organised the memorial tournaments in 2008 and last year.
But Thompson, who has just completed a degree in England, was unable to get back in time to organise the third one.
“The reason why it was put off was because I had my graduation from university where I received an honours degree in communication design at the University of Portsmouth,” Thompson said.
“My last year of university I dropped down a basketball division so I could have more time for my work but I ended up having more time than I expected so I ended up playing in three different leagues. National League being the highest one of them, Hampshire Local League and the last few days for the University of Portsmouth after I handed in my last projects. This was a very busy year for me but I proved that sports and education can go hand in hand.
“By the time I got to Cayman to organise the tournament I was told by the two venues that I approached that the courts were booked out for the rest of the year, one of them being the Cox’s court where the Filipino League was going on. I was trying my hardest to make this tournament happen but unfortunately it didn’t after trying for almost two months.
“I’d like to thank Collin Anglin (acting director of sports) for his help and support in trying to get a court. Thanks also to Tonya Whittaker for helping to organise the tournament and helping out with contacting the sponsors. The sponsors I would like to thank are Tortuga and Monster energy drink, Butterfield Bank, East End star bar, Bodden and Bodden, Domino’s Pizza, Dolphin Discovery and Winner Circle.
“The tournament next year is in July so that the students that are away playing in college can have a change to take part in the event. It is my goal to make next year’s bigger than the previous two tournaments.”
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