The Taylor Tip Off is in its third year. It’s a reminder of a horrible time, but in a bigger sense, a reminder of how many people opened their hearts after a tragedy.

Over the past two years, the basketball tournament has raised $23,000 for Kaylee and Kiana Taylor, sisters from Westbrook who lost their parents in a murder-suicide in April 2009.

This year, the tournament will be at the Falmouth middle and high schools, as well as Thomas College. The Taylors have asked that the money raised go instead to other children affected by domestic violence. Games will be played from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, featuring boys and girls middle school and high school-aged teams.

The Maine Athletic Club and the ME Swish basketball team started the annual Taylor Tip Off in 2009. Kaylee and Kiana played for the ME Swish and were taken in by a half-sister, Jenny York.

“The girls on the team wanted to help them out,” said Mark Leclerc, the owner of the Maine Athletic Club. “They were left with no home, no money, no nothing.”

One interesting twist to the tournament is that the winners of the games don’t matter. The winner of the tournament is the team that raises the most money. The tournament is in conjunction with the sixth and final week of the fall basketball league Leclerc runs. He said there will be about 80 teams at the tournament from all parts of the state.

“We have kids who come from as far as Washburn and Washington County,” Leclerc said.

Leclerc said he is hoping this year’s event will raise $20,000. He admits he’s an optimist anyway, but with about 20 more teams competing this year, he thinks that number is possible.

“Teams are out doing various things,” Leclerc said. “Some are asking pledges for how many points they score. Others are doing bottles and cans. I think $20,000 is a reasonable goal.”

For more information on the event, or to donate, go to http://www.taylortipoff.org.

Matt DiFilippo — 861-9243

mdifilippo@centralmaine.com

 

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