Somers Basketball Team, Senator Greg Ball Team Up at Annual Tournament

Senator Greg Ball (R, C, I – Patterson), Chairman of the Senate Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee, recently joined the Somers and Putnam Valley Varsity Basketball teams at the 7th annual Putnam Challenge boys basketball tournament.

"It was a pleasure to attend the Putnam Challenge at Brewster High School," Ball said in a statement. "This is a wonderful event that brings together schools throughout the region to participate in a basketball tournament, all in the name of higher education."

Ball said he wanted to thank Mark Farrell and Joe Padovano for their work every year organizing the event.

"I would also like to thank all the volunteers that always help make this event a huge success," he said. 

Putnam Challenge Co-Chairman Mark Farrell said the board takes great pleasure in hosting a day of basketball.

"Officials, fans, coaches and players can have fun and raise money to help some kids' families with the cost of college," Farrell said. "It is simply a good day all around for everyone."

Twenty teams from throughout the Hudson Valley participated in the event. To date, The Putnam Challenge has awarded thirteen $500 college scholarships to student athletes. 

All of the officials volunteer their time to not only officiate the games, but to do all the other tasks needed to make the day a success each year.