3-on-3 Tournament: Ballin' with a Cause

An unofficial estimate of people who came to the 3-on-3 basketball tournament for Andy Niebler this Sunday at Center Court was 500 attendees.

But after adding in all the family, friends and other people who came to showand to watch some basketball, that number is likely too low, by hundreds.

The 10 half-sized courts were packed with more than 350 athletes playing serious basketball. Also packed was a banquet room as people and family and friends bid on silent auction items and enjoyed some not-so-serious balloon-making and face-painting.

More than one person remarked on the “amazing” amount of people attending.

Part memorial, part fundraiser, part family/community gathering and part basketball tournament, the event drew people from many surrounding communities.

But the community of people who came for the Niebler family was perhaps the most important group.

With some wearing shirts special shirts, the young athletes came to shoot hoops and raise money for the family of Andy Niebler, after a year-long fight against brain cancer.

For many of them, , this was a chance to do something proactive for a good friend and a great family.

Andy’s teammates from the Waukesha Firebirds came to play ball, as did Hoops for Hope, a junior Blackshirts  seventh-grade basketball team. Another team, friends of the family, was from Oconomowoc, wearing shirts that said, “The Truth Is … Cancer Sucks.”

The games were competitive, with a mix of select teams and other basketball teams whose summer season recently ended, registering for the chance to play without knowing much about the cause until the day of the event. The photos of Andy and bracelets handed out at the door that said “Cancer Sucks” helped spread the message.

But many attendees came for “Awesome Andy” and his family.

“He just had something very special. He was a very special, special boy,” said one attendee.

Volunteer Holly Podlewski, who was attending with her husband and two sons, one of whom was officiating, said it was how she wanted to spend her birthday.

“What better way to spend my birthday?” she asked. The Nieblers were “such a nice family. How could you not want to help them?”

Podlewski met the Nieblers through various school, sports and community activities, as have many other people attending.

 “I’m thrilled to see the whole community come together to help the family,” she said.

Also attending was Andy’s family. Mary Beth Niebler, Andy’s mom, said Andy would have liked it the event.

“He would have loved it. He would have been burning rubber around here, goofing off and having fun,” she said. “He’s probably looking down, telling a joke or something.”

She was overwhelmed and grateful for the support shown by the community, as demonstrated by the crowds of people attending.

The fundraiser was a large endeavor for planners – coordinating the tournament, gathering donations, organizing the auction and entertainment and running the event during the day.

Center Court donated the use of the facility. Balloon art was provided by Peter John Lindsay of Half-Twisted Half-Knot, who donated his time and who spent all day chatting and joking with kids as he tied balloons into unique shapes for an appreciative audience. Whiskers the Clown also made balloon shapes and Miss Sunshine the Clown painted faces.

Other sponsors and donors can be found on the 3-on-3 For Niebs website.