LYNN — They came from as far away as Boston to celebrate the legacy of Gloria Echevarria, matriarch of the family that has produced a lot of athletic talent in and around the City of Lynn.
The second annual “Gloria’s Basketball tournament” was held this weekend at the Herb Brenner Gym at Fecteau-Leary Jr./Sr. High school and her daughter, Elizabeth, was more than pleased with the turnout.
“We’re ecstatic,” she said. “We are still on Cloud 9. The support was overwhelming.
“It was crazy,” she said. “It was a packed house both days. The community really came out to support us.”
Among the members of the Echevarria families were Gloria’s four children, Elizabeth, Jose, Maria and Eneida, all of whom organized the tournament; as well as Nicio and Marcos, both former stars who helped lead Lynn Classical to two state boys basketball championships in the 1990s.
“They may be our cousins, but (Gloria) raised those boys,” Elizabeth Echevarria said.
Both were present over the weekend, as were Marcos’ sons Jalen, who has already blossomed into a star at St. Mary’s, and Marcos Jr., who plays for Nichols College.
The finals pitted two teams from Boston, Score 4 More against B.G., with Score 4 More winning by a point, 75-74.
There were also teams from Connecticut, Lawrence, Haverhill and many from Lynn.
Among those playing in this year’s tournament was former St. John’s Prep and Notre Dame star Pat Connaughton, who currently plays for the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA, Elizabeth Echevarria said.
She promises future tournament will be even bigger.
“We’re going to expand it, and try to include women next year,” she said. “A lot of women came up to us and said they wanted to play.
“Plus, we had to turn down a lot of teams because it was only a 2-day event, so next year we’ll go over three days.”
Also, the scholarship presented to Priscill Alouidor of Classical, which amounted to $500, will be tripled next year to $1,500, Echevarria said, as people have already volunteered to match the tournament’s contribution.
“Mom was really shining down on us this weekend,” Echevarria said of her mother, who died in 2013. “I think she’s proud of us. I really do.”
