“With so many COVID-19 unknowns out there, we just needed to make a tough decision.”  Noted tournament director, Doug Bruggeman.

The Shada tournament has experienced some trying moments over the years; From intense July heat and humidity (before the days of climate control), floors sweating because of the humidity, tornado sightings, storms that knocked out electricity for hours, a major sewer line back up, to a broken backboard but this is just something that they could not find a fix for.

“Our hope is that June comes and we look at each other and say that we could have done the tournament but everything is trending towards social distancing in June.   We just felt that it was best to make the call now as the prep for the tournament is so great.” 

The Shada annually attracts over 275 teams to the small lakes country town of Pelican Rapids where over 1200 players compete in divisions from 3rd grade to 35+ divisions including a highly competitive college division.

The Shada will be back in 2021 with dates already set for the traditional first weekend in June. 

Over the years this tournament has created an atmosphere of a “family lakes weekend” with the bonus of participating in a competitive basketball event.  Many of the participants of the tournament have lake cabins in the immediate area and they just make it a fun weekend for friends and family.

“We ultimately have three goals with the Shada tournament.”  Noted Bruggeman.  “First – Promote the great game of basketball.  Second – help the basketball programs through fundraising.  Third – Attract people to the great community of Pelican Rapids.”  

Obviously, there is going to be a hole in the fundraising account for the boys and girls basketball teams at Pelican Rapids High School and the community does lose an event that brought thousands to the community. 

Bruggeman hopes to have a “We Coulda Been Contenders” commemorative Shada Gear clothing to sell on-line during that first week of June as a way to raise a little money for the basketball programs. 

“The Shada has been a great way for a lot of people to start of the beginning of summer and we are going to figure out a way to bring in back in 2021 in a big way!”  Commented Bruggeman.