One of the oldest and longest-running basketball tournaments in Pennsylvania is back again this week in Somerset County.
The two-day Rotary Tournament is being hosted for the 63rd year at Windber Area High School, wrapping up Thursday night.
Windber's Head Varsity and JV Basketball Coach Steve Slatcoff says it's become a basketball tradition in the area.
It's something that we always look forward to -- something that we always have circled on our schedule -- because it's our own tournament. It's something that we host. It's something we take great pride in, especially since it's in our own gym," Slatcoff told 6 News.Slatcoff says it's something every local basketball player dreams about playing in someday, following the thousands of players who've competed before.
"As a kid growing up who is involved in sports, you get the sense of how important it is to the community. You wait for your turn to get the chance to play and show your skills," he said.
Held every year since 1959 -- except for 2020 due to the pandemic -- the teams are back and ready to compete.
Windber, Bishop McCort, Chestnut Ridge, and Everett are going head to head to see who will win the championship.
"It always gives us an opportunity to play against schools that maybe we don't see regularly on our schedule. That's always good for good experience for us throughout the season," said Slatcoff.
Held every year around Christmas time, the tournament has become interwoven with the holidays for these local basketball fans.
"The stands are always a little bit more full. The kids really look forward to it, because they not only get to play in front of their family and friends, but also some of their extended family who are home for the holidays," Slatcoff told 6 News.
Proceeds from the tournament go to the Rotary Club and are turned around in the form of scholarships for students.
Their mission comes full circle after over six decades of local teams coming together.
"It brings everybody together and gives you that small town feel -- that sense of community and pride -- that I feel is different here at Windber than anywhere else," said Slatcoff.
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