Complete Success At The 15th Annual Jessie Darnell

Category: Community News Community News
Published: 19 July 2024 19 July 2024

JDTour23-ON-3 BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
Tournament brings awareness to mental health and raises money for scholarships

LORDSBURG, N.M. – There were 137 teams of all ages that dribbled into Lordsburg High School Gymnasium in Lordsburg, N.M. for the 15th Annual Jessie Darnell 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, Friday-Sunday, July 12-14.

There were 389 total games played over three days with countless memories made, while Los Chivos; (Chase Salazar, Carlo Michael, Emery Coleman, Devin Collins) won the open division on the men's side and NM Elite; (Jaz Ruiz, Alize Ruiz, Faith Silva) won the open women's division.

The Jessie Darnell 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament was founded as a memorial for Jessie Darnell, who was a stellar student-athlete for the Lordsburg Mavericks and tragically lost his life to suicide in 2007. The family of Darnell wanted to bring light and awareness to mental health while also finding a way to raise money for scholarships.

"We are at a point with this tournament where I really envisioned this being at," said tournament organizer and LHS boys' basketball coach DJ Saucedo. "It's really brought people together and we are able to provide scholarships to deserving student-athletes."

To date, the tournament has provided over $36,000 in scholarships, which includes the 2024 Jessie Darnell One Heartbeat Scholarship winners, Daphne Clark, Alicia Jarrott and Mauricio Zambrano.

JDTour1The mother of Jessie Darnell, Lisa Diaz-Ortega states, "We did this because mental illness often goes unnoticed by those closest to us, as was the case with my son Jessie Darnell. He was physically and athletically strong and had a huge heart but was not able to beat the illness. We ask anyone struggling and suffering with mental illness to find support. There are ways to cope. Do not be ashamed or embarrassed. It is an illness and there are ways to cope."

What started out as a tournament with local teams has now expanded to include teams from the surrounding areas and beyond. It has evolved into, what many believe, the best basketball tournament. But "The Jessie," as it is commonly referred to, has always been about more than just basketball. The 2024 edition of "The Jessie" featured teams from Phoenix, Tucson, Morenci, Silver City, Deming, Cobre, Alamogordo, Animas, Las Cruces, Tularosa, Fort Sumner, Albuquerque, Yuma, Denver, Holbrock, Santa Fe and as well as our many local teams.

Below are a list of winners from this year's 15th Annual Jessie Darnell 3-on-3 basketball tournament.

10U (coed) TOP BRACKET
Champions: Storm; (Tatum Rios, Zander Palacios, Lucius Nava)
Runner-Ups: Super Hoopers; (Daxton Hooker, Walker Allsup, Harper Kopchick, Quade Topmiller)
Consolation: Lil Aces; (Gabriel Artiaga, Derek Ruiz, Joseph Ruiz, Luke Wells)

10U (coed) BOTTOM BRACKET
Champions: Ankle Breakers; (Joseph Baldridge, Daniel Gallegos, Shaelynn Guerrero, Adalynn Esquivel)
Runner-Ups: Rim Rockers; (Desmond Burrola, Romeo Hart, Daniel Escobar, Ethan Aguliar)
Consolation: Court Queens; (Ashley Chavez, Sloane Taylor, Mia Zavaleta, Keiarah Vitela)

12U (coed) TOP BRACKET
Champions: Broncos; (Javier Palacios, Jayden Benfield, Cutter Jameson, Xavier Melendrez)
Runner Ups: Colts; (Joshua Sierra, Andres Flores, Sam Morales, Juin Espinosa)
Consolation: Morenci12; (Brayden Chavez, Eli Mesa, Dezmond Chavez, Braydon Mason)

12U (coed) BOTTOM BRACKET
Champions: Play Makers; (Sophia Salinas, Dimas Baca, Isaac Alvarez, David Bustillos)
Runner-Ups: Shot Callers; (Bonnie Saiz, Isabella Pantoja, Serentiy McCants, Elijah McCants)
Consolation: Pink Ladies; (Selah Calanchi, Neiam Broja, Elyzsa Broja, Isabella Chacon)

14U (coed)
Champions: Safford; (Kaybian Chavez, Lucas Lackner, Tre Gains)
Runner Ups: Team name N/A; (Rylynd Bleich, Xander Carrasco, Jason Chadwick, Albert Madrid)
Consolation: In & Out; (Daniel Diaz, Jerome Contreras, Vicente Valdez, Leo Marquez)

JDTour316U GIRLS
Champions: Bench Riders; (Kianna Murillo, Everleigh Aguirre, Jordyn Andazola, Justinne Altamirano)
Runner Ups: Rugrats; (Natalie Guerrero, Julissa Rodriguez, Neveah DeLaGarza, Destiney Newell)
Consolation: Brick City; (Alexis Rope, Jamie Johnson, Oaklee Welchman)

16U BOYS
Champions: Morenci16; (Adrian McCabe, Noah Chavez, Adrian McCallum, Ayman Abdulgader)
Runner Ups: Cherry Bombers; (Josiah Madrid, Simeon Hawkins, Brandon Kimberly, Jose Medina)
Consolation: Aces; (Andrew Ruiz, Zane Gomez, Derek Rodriguez, Gael Leon)

17 Women's Top Bracket
Champions: NM Elite; (Jaz Ruiz, Alize Ruiz, Faith Silva)
Runner Ups: Lady Rebels; (Jennifer Hopkins, Daphne Bolman, Alyssa Martin, Allison Hopkins)
Consolation: Bomb Squad; (Valerie Guerrero, Anabel Molina, Daphane Clark, Avellana Vigil-Villalobos)

17 Women's Bottom Bracket
Champions: Not Like Us; (Janeene Lang, Rhiannon Lang, Vivi Gutierrez, Anisa Sanchez)
Runner Ups: They Hoop; (Celesta Casa, Alice Juan, Emma)
Consolation: See You In Court; (Alexys Salas, Laila Lopez, Nyssa Torres, Aalyah Dominguez)

17 Men's Top Bracket
Champions: Los Chivos; (Chase Salazar, Carlo Michael, Emery Coleman, Devin Collins)
Runner Ups: Family Matters; (Kai Williams, Joe Garza, Deuce Benjamin, Marais Williams)
3rd Place: Team name N/A; (Jordan Ramirez, Alex Alfaro, Eric Saenz, Lucio Luttrell)

17 Men's Bottom Bracket
Champions: Kings of the Court; (Angel Aguileras, Daniel Cisneros, La'Corian Ballard, Ladon Milner)
Runner Ups: Melecio, (Joe Seballos, Daylen Johnson, Diego Lucero)
Consolation: Dr. Disrespect; (Victor Valdez, Jordan DeLaGarza, Cameron Saucedo, Henry Duarte)

35 and Older Mens
Champions: Ramrod; (Tanner Allsup, Beau Bradberry, Orew Watson, Josh Ybaruo)
Runner Ups: Morenci35; (Ricardo Aguilar, Raymod Alvarez, David Ramirez, Steven Chavez)
Consolation: The Really Good; (Eric Gonzalez, Eric Bauerie, Joe Anaya)

Other Awards
3 Point Contest

13 and Under:
Winner: Joshua Sierra
Runner-Up: Kevin Lopez

14 And Older
First: Faith Silva
Second: David Ramirez
*3 Point Contest prized donated by Phantom Fireworks and Gift Cards by Melissa DeLaGarza

Youngest Participant: Abrain Dominguez
Oldest Participant: Ronald Tillis of Las Cruces, N.M.
*Youngest/Oldest sponsored by Scott and Alyssa Esquivel

Chuy Award (represents Strength & Honor): Noah Chavez of Morenci, Ariz.
*Sponsored by DJ Placencia

Farthest person traveled: Mica Cano, is stationed in Jacksonville NC. Thank you for your service. Gas money donated by the Acosta Family.

Farthest Team Traveled: The Really Good Team, Denver Colorado. Entry fee donated by Eddie
Morelos.

##JD3ON3BASKETBALL##

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