2-day O'Connell-Thomson Basketball Tournament
The Mount, Fenno St., Quincy, MA
Weekend of August 15 - 16, 2009
Saturday 10am - 9pm, Sunday 10am - 8pm

The O’Connell-Thomson Tournament began four years ago to pay tribute to John “Okie” O’Connell and Dennis Thomson. The tournament serves as a fundraiser for Okie and Dennis’ scholarships through the game of basketball, a sport that both loved. Okie and Dennis were close friends within a very tight group of friends that graduated from North Quincy High School in 2002. Okie and Dennis died tragically within a year of one another.

Okie was a star basketball player and pitcher for North Quincy, but he was the most popular kid in school more for the warmth and kindness he exhibited to all who came into contact with him. Okie planned on enlisting in the Coast Guard after graduating Westfield State College, but tragically never got the chance. In October of 2005, his senior year, Okie was acting as a peacemaker during a fight outside a bar when he was sucker punched. The unexpected punch knocked Okie back, causing him to hit his head on the pavement. He died that night. He was 21 years old.

Dennis – the senior class vice president, starting quarterback and funniest kid in school – joined the Air Force after high school. In October 2004, Dennis was driving in Mississippi to visit a friend when his jeep was struck by a drunk driver. Dennis was ejected from the jeep and went into a coma. He died three weeks later. He was 20.

Naturally, the deaths had a huge impact on their families, friends and the community as a whole. Each family set up a scholarship fund at North Quincy High to benefit graduating seniors. The basketball tournament was started four years ago to help raise funds for the scholarships and to provide a fun weekend for friends and loved ones to get together. The tournament relies on the generosity of individuals and businesses to help fund these scholarships.