Local Senior To Host BBall Tournament To Benefit Longtime Coach

There's a special Basketball tournament scheduled to kick off at 10 AM this coming Saturday, May 18th, at Wright Gymnasium. The purpose of this particular event is to give back to a man who has helped so many kids from Pittsfield develop a love of sports.

Woody Moore has been a high school football coach for MCI for many years. He started coaching in Skowhegan when he finished High School around 1994. Moore has coached football, baseball, and basketball in the area for almost 2 decades.

He is known throughout town for his positive attitude and his willingness to go above and beyond for his athletes and for the Pittsfield community.

Moore suffered an aneurysm in January of 2024. Since then, the community Coah Moore spent so much time giving so much effort and energy to, has been rallying around him.

From organizing a meal train for his family to setting up other fundraisers for Moore, many of the folks who are spearheading these efforts are his former or current athletes.

Maine Central Institute Senior, Landon Ross, is one of those kids. Ross grew up playing basketball and football for Moore, even playing alongside Moore's son.

When Ross was given a school assignment to come up with a Senior Project, he said creating something that would give back to this man who had taught him so much was a no-brainer.

"I knew I wanted to create something that would affect someone or someone in my community positively,  and seeing Woody and how he and his family were suffering, it became obvious that this is what I should do for my Senior project."

Ross put together a 3v3 Basketball Tournament, scheduled to take place this weekend.

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According to the 3v3 Basketball Tournament Fundraiser event page...

"There will be two age brackets; one for youth/middle school teams and one for high school/adult teams. Competitors will compete in single elimination games to 7, where the winners of each age group will win various prizes!"

He says there are over a dozen teams signed up to play Saturday, so far.

Ross says Moore has been undergoing physical therapy since the beginning of the year and is making great strides. He loves crossing paths with Moore when Moore does venture out and about to local sporting events.

Woody Moore's wife, Becky, says the family is so grateful for the community's help.

"We do not have the words to express our gratitude for this community. We are truly blessed. I'm not sure we could have done this on our own. From providing meals to helping with projects around the house to financial support...we are truly thankful. This community is constantly giving back to our family. I do not feel alone through this difficult time."

Ross says he's hoping to raise as much money as possible for his old coach, to support Moore and his family as he recovers.

100% of the proceeds from Saturday's Tournament will go to benefit Coach Moore and his family.

To register for the tournament, you can click here.