(La Porte, IN) - Local officials are pleased with how things went during the 5th annual La Porte Invitational, a three day basketball competition featuring some of the best college prep talent in the nation.
Tom Izzo, the legendary head coach of the men’s basketball team at Michigan State University and former NBA star Rasheed Wallace were among the celebrities in the sport in attendance Friday night at the Civic Auditorium.
Jack Arnett, Executive Director of the La Porte County Convention and Visitors Bureau, said Izzo sat behind the steering wheel on the bus used in the basketball movie “Hoosiers” that was on display outside the facility.
Arnett said Izzo also took a moment to sign autographs.
“I went and congratulated him for being so friendly,” he said.
La Porte Park Department Superintendent Mark Schreiber said attendance was strong but seemed to suffer a bit while the Indiana Hoosiers played Friday night in the college football playoffs and the Chicago Bears played Saturday night in the NFL playoffs.
“We had really good strong early attendance and steady throughout the day, so, I think we’re overall pretty happy with it,” he said.
Nationally ranked La Lumiere lost their first game of the season in the competition Friday night but came back with victories in each of the following two nights.
