'Wally' Seaver invitational to benefit ALS

By Mary Pavlu, Globe Correspondent

On the day of Wellesley varsity basketball team’s final game of the season in February 2011, coach Paul “Wally” Seaver was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

“It’s a progressive disease, there’s no cure, and barely any treatment,” Seaver’s eldest son, also Paul, said. “For 95 percent of treatments, they don’t even know what caused it.”

In honor of his father’s fight against the disease, Seaver’s eldest son will be running the first annual high school basketball tournament, titled the “Wally” Seaver High School Invitational. The two-day tournament consisting of 16 teams will take place at Milford High School and Milford Middle School East on Saturday July 21 and Sunday July 22.

The 16 teams in the tournament are from Massachusetts, with the exception of one from Connecticut, and one from Rhode Island.

“It’s a life changing situation, but the community has been great,” Paul Seaver said. “We’ve received tons of support, especially from Milford, but everywhere … We have 16 teams coming in.”

"Wally" Seaver coached varsity basketball at Franklin and Wellesley high schools, and coached youth teams for Milford. Seaver’s sons Paul and Daniel are also Milford High graduates.

For donations or more information on the invitational, contact Paul Seaver at wallyinvitational@gmail.com.

Tournament Schedule:

Group A (all games at Milford High School): Milford, Hopedale, Rocky Hill (CT,) Dedham

Group B (all games at Middle School East): Wellesley, Sutton, Ashland, Lunenburg

Group C (all games at Milford High School): Franklin, Uxbridge, Framingham, Mount St. Charles (RI)

Group D (all games at Middle School East): Wachusett, Canton, Brookline, BMR

Saturday, July 21:
8 a.m.: Franklin vs. Uxbridge (Milford High School)
8 a.m.: Sutton vs. Ashland (Middle School East)
9 a.m.: Milford vs. Dedham (Milford High School)
9 a.m.: Wellesley vs. Lunenburg (Middle School East)
10 a.m.: Rocky Hill vs. Hopedale (Milford High School)
10 a.m.: BMR vs. Wachusett (Middle School East)
11 a.m.: Franklin vs. Framingham (Milford High School)
11 a.m.: Lunenburg vs. Ashland (Middle School East)
Noon: Rocky Hill vs. Dedham (Milford High School)
Noon: Canton vs. Brookline (Middle School East)
1 p.m.: Framingham vs. Mount St. Charles (Milford High School)
1 p.m.: Wellesley vs. Sutton (Middle School East)
2 p.m.: Milford vs. Hopedale (Milford High School)
2 p.m.: Wachusett vs. Canton (Middle School East)
3 p.m.: Uxbridge vs. Mount St. Charles (Milford High School)
3 p.m.: Brookline vs. BMR (Middle School East)

Sunday, July 22:
8 a.m.: Franklin vs. Mount St. Charles (Milford High School)
8 a.m.: Wellesley vs. Ashland (Middle School East)
9 a.m.: Framingham vs. Uxbridge (Milford High School)
9 a.m.: BMR vs. Canton (Middle School East)
10 a.m.: Milford vs. Rocky Hill (Milford High School)
10 a.m.: Wachusett vs. Brookline (Middle School East)
11 a.m.: Hopedale vs. Dedham (Milford High School)
11 a.m.: Lunenburg vs. Sutton (Middle School East)

Semifinal Round
12:30PM: Group A Champion vs. Group C Champion (Milford High School)
12:30PM: Group B Champion vs. Group D Champion (Middle School East)

Championship Round
2:15PM: Winner of Group A/Group C vs. Winner of Group B/Group D