Hoops for Kids’ Sake shifts to 3-on-3 basketball tournament

There will be a new format in the annual Hoops for Kids’ Sake charity basketball game that pits the Arkansas House of Representatives versus the State Senate.

The ninth modern-era charity basketball game will take place Monday, April 22 at 6 p.m. at the Eddie L. Boone & Oliver Fitzpatrick, Jr. Fieldhouse at Little Rock Central High School. Proceeds will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arkansas (BBBSCA) and the Children’s Advocacy Centers (CAC) of Arkansas.

This year’s competition, for the first time, will be in a 3-on-3 tournament format with teams squaring off from the Arkansas House, Arkansas Senate, the Office of the Governor, and the Office of the Arkansas Attorney General.

Arkansas House and Senate members will also participate in Olympiad-style contests like free throws, three-pointers, half-court shots and more.

“The Senate looks forward to supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters and the CACs of Arkansas on the court as we go head-to-head versus the House,” said Arkansas Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs. “The burden to defend our back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back wins is weighty, but we’re ready.”

The Senate leads the series 5-3 after its fifth consecutive win last year. The game resumed in 2023 after a three-year break following the 2020 onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I was happy to see the tradition return, but I expect the House to put forward a much stronger effort this year in this new 3-on-3 format particularly with the Senate not being able to recruit unlike years past. It will afford us a much better chance of taking back the championship title, and most importantly, we look forward to continuing to raise money for these charities that do so much for the children of Arkansas,” said Arkansas Speaker of the House Matthew Shepherd, R-El Dorado.

General admission tickets cost $10 and will be available at the door. Since its inception in 2013, the game has raised nearly $250,000 for BBBSCA and CAC.

For sponsorship information, please contact Kristin Koenigsfest at 501-441-2070 or [email protected]. Checks should be made payable to BBBSCA and mailed to 1201 West Third Street, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201.