Mark Capano, event coordinator for Special Olympics’  Southern Maine Basketball Tournament, left, Saturday at USM in Gorham announces Alan Rawley of Bangor, right, as winner of an individual skills award. Sgt. Sears Edwards of Gorham Police Department assisted with the presentation to Rawley.

GORHAM  – Special Olympics’ Southern Maine regional basketball tournament Saturday at the Gorham campus of the University of Southern Maine was a huge success, organizers said.

The annual event was held in both the fieldhouse and gym in the university’s Costello Sports Complex. “The turnout is excellent,” said Phil Geelhoed, president and CEO of Special Olympics Maine.

Mark Capano, Special Olympics program director, said the tournament drew 300 participants and 24 teams including traditional and unified teams. The unified teams consist of a mix of students with and without disabilities.

The tournament also included individual skills competition.

Capano said it’s a “big event” and one of three Special Olympics state basketball tournaments statewide. Three teams traveled Saturday to Gorham from Aroostook County.

Geelhoed praised the 100 volunteers that included those from New England University, USM’s women’s basketball team, and Cheverus students.

“It’s a big event,” Capano, a New Gloucester resident, said.

Geelhoed thanked the University of Southern Maine that has hosted the tournament for 30 years.

Robert Lowell can be reached 854-2577 or rlowell@keepmecurrent.com

Members of the Pine Tree Society team earn medals Saturday in the Special Olympics Maine basketball tournament at the University of Southern Maine in Gorham.