By WESLEY HALLMAN / Sports Editor

Chelsea High School girls’ basketball coach Wayne Trucks thought auctioning off pink basketballs signed by players on teams participating in the Hoops for Hope tournament Dec. 29-31 would be a hit.

He didn’t expect the attention the basketballs would garner.

Parents of players on each team entered into a bidding war to try to make their basketballs sell for the highest amount, Trucks said. Following the auction, tournament proceeds reached $2,500, which will be donated to the American Cancer Society through Relay for Life.

Hibbett Sports donated the basketballs, Trucks said.

“It became a good competition between the parents,” Trucks said.

Pleasant Grove captured the tournament championship following a 52-49 win over Fort Payne in the tournament championship game Dec. 31.

Chelsea, which defeated Cordova before falling to Pleasant Grove in the semifinals, finished fourth in the tournament with a 1-2 record in three tournament games.

Calera, which topped Cordova in a consolation game, came in sixth in the tournament after posting a 1-2 mark in the tournament.

Montevallo finished in seventh place with a 1-2 record after topping Cordova in a consolation game.

“It was a wonderful tournament,” Trucks said. “We had good crowds and good teams.”

Trucks said the girls’ basketball team will also raise funds for the American Cancer Society during an in-school game Jan. 23 against McAdory. The school plans to make the game a ‘Pink-Out’ game and will sell pink bracelets to raise money for the American Cancer Society.