By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
Six years ago the Blizzard of '97 cut short the area's junior high basketball season.
Thus was born the Dowagiac Rotary Club's Snowed Out Shoot Out.
The sixth annual tournament will be held at Southwestern Michigan College's Zollar Sports Center on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 7-8.
The tournament is open to both seventh and eighth grade boy's basketball teams, although it is primarily aimed at eighth grade squads.
The tournament is comprised of teams from southwestern Michigan and north-central Indiana.
The teams, which consist many from players at the various schools, are coached by parents, boosters and even high school players.
The tournament is limited to the first eight teams and a $100 fee is charged. Each team is guaranteed three games.
Each coach will receive a custom embroidered polo shirt for organizing a team.
All games will be played on a regulation NCAA floor with modified Michigan High School Athletic Association middle school rules. Varsity officials from the Southwest Michigan Officials Association will referee all games.
For more information contact Ron Gunn at 782-1209.