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The 37th annual International Tournament should prove to be the best-ever, while Small Fry adds a girls tournament in 2005 as well. Bookmark this page for information as it becomes available.

37th annual International Small Fry Tournament

 The 2005 International field includes:

  • Seven former International champions: Bucaplaa PR; Chicago Heights; Highwood Heat; Rainbow Jaguars; St. Rocco, NJ; West Pullman Runners and Newark.
  • Teams from Puerto Rico and three different states: New Jersey, Illinois and Wisconsin.
  • Ten returnees from 2004: Chicago Heights, Harvey, Highwood Heat, Kenosha, Newark Project Pride, St. Rocco, Bucaplaa, Hatillo, Rainbow Jaguars and West Pullman Runners.
  • Two first-time qualifiers: Manati, PR and Newark PAL.
  • Two of last year's Final Four: Bucaplaa A and St. Rocco.

MORE FACTS, FIGURES
   Last year's International title for Bucaplaa A made it three different regions in as many years and four different regions to win titles since the year 2000. After winning seven titles from 1991-2000, the Midwest has been shut out the last four years.

  • Bucaplaa's championship last year made it four teams from Puerto Rico to claim multiple titles, including Liga Interclub (five), Fraigcomar (two), Ponce (two) and Bucaplaa (1986, 2004).
  • Prior to the Highwood Heat's three-peat in 1997-99, six different states/territories had won International crowns in six years. Starting with 1992 in New Orleans, the title was won by New Jersey (Newark, 1992), Puerto Rico (Fraigcomar, 1993), Wisconsin (Racine, 1994), Indiana (Gary, 1995), Chicago (Runners, 1996) and Illinois (Highwood, 1997).
  • Nineteen different teams have won International tournaments, as Bucaplaa became the 10th multiple winner. Other multiple winners include Racine (1972, 1981, 1987, 1994); the New York Harlem Satellites (1970, 1971, 1974); Liga Interclub of St. Juan (1973, 1976-79); Chicago Heights, Ill. (1980, 1991); Ponce, Puerto Rico (1984, 1990); Fraigcomar, Puerto Rico (1989, 1993), Homewood (85, 2000) and the West Pullman Runners (88, 96).
  • Two different regions have met in the last four International title games. However, before that the International title has been decided within the same geographical region in nine of 10 years. The streak included: 1991— Chicago Heights over Highwood Small Fry; 1992— Newark over Riverside, N.Y.; 1993— Fraigcomar over Torrimar; 1995— Gary, Ind. over Highwood Small Fry; 1996— Chicago West Pullman Runners over Highwood Small Fry; 1997— Highwood Small Fry over Chicago Marquette Best. 1998— Highwood Small Fry over Chicago Heights. 1999— Highwood Small Fry over Chicago Washington Jaguars. 2000— Homewood over Chicago Washington Jaguars.
  • Homewood became the sixth team to play in at least four title games last year, joining leaders Racine and Highwood (seven each), Liga Interclub, Harlem Satellites and Chicago Heights.
  • The Midwest or Chicago has been represented in the title game 21 of the last 27 years.
  • Puerto Rican teams have a 14-4 record in championship games.
  • The 36 previous champions have represented five different regions: Midwest (12), Chicago (3), Carribean (15), East (5) and West (1).
  • Small Fry's famous alumni include Nick Van Exel, Portland Blazers (Kenosha), Charley Scott, Boston Celtics (New York), Craig Hodges, Chicago Bulls World Champs (Chicago Heights); Mike Tomczak, Chicago Bears (Homewood); Butch Lee, Marquette 1977 National Champs (New York); Veltra Dawson, Villanova 1985 National Champs (Highwood); Will Bynum, Georgia Tech 2004 NCAA Runner Up (Chicago); and Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles (Homewood).

    CONSECUTIVE INTERNATIONALS:
    21— Newark.
    16— Chicago Heights.
    13— Highwood Heat.
    10— W.P. Runners.
     8— Kenosha, St. Rocco.
     5— Bucaplaa.
     2— Rainbow Jaguars, Harvey, Hatilla.
    1— Constancia, Glenbrook, Manati, Marquette Best, Newark PAL, Santurce.

A LOOK AT INTERNATIONAL QUALIFIERS

CHICAGO

Rainbow Jaguars: The Jaguars earned their sixth berth with a perfect record through Windy City qualifying. They dropped back-to-back title contests with a 60-50 loss the Highwood Heat in 1999 and a 44-38 setback against Homewood in 2000.

West Pullman Runners: The two-time champs after a 66-54 overtime title-game win over Highwood at Newark in 1996, the Runners have qualified 17 of the last 18 years. They also captured the 1988 International crown in Chicago Heights with a 71-70 victory over Caguas Prebac of Puerto Rico. The Runners have advanced to the Final Four in eight of 19 appearances.

Marquette Best: A visitor to the Final Four on three occasions, the Best returns after a one-year hiatus and for the 10th time overall. Marquette captured a second place in 1997 with a 48-41 title-game loss to the Highwood Heat.

EAST

St. Rocco (N.J.): A participant in 13 previous International Tournaments, East Coast Qualifier champion St. Rocco has advanced to 11 of the last 13 International Tourneys. Topped Bucaplaa, 56-49, to win the 2003 crown in its third straight title-game appearance. St. Rocco also sustained a 46-43 loss to Chicago And 1 in 2002 and a 46-45 loss to Arecibo, PR in 2001.

Newark (N.J.) Project Pride: The Pride owns the longest string of International appearances at 21. Has won plenty of hardware lately, topping Riverside Church of New York, 59-48, for the 1992 title in New Orleans, taking second in 1995 at Tampa, third at Tampa in 1990, fourth in 2001, and the consolation crown at home in Newark in 1987 and 1996, as well as 1999 in Orlando.

Newark PAL: One of two first-time qualifiers in the field this year.

MIDWEST

Kenosha, Wis.: A qualifier for the eighth straight year, Kenosha is hoping to make its first Final Four since 1995. Kenosha has played in three title contests, falling to Liga Club in 1978 and 1979 and dropping a decision to Canovanas in 1983. Has advanced to the Final Four five times since 1980.

Highwood Heat: Making its 13th consecutive appearance, Highwood won its first International crown in 1997 in Tampa with a 48-41 decision over Marquette Best, then followed it up with a 58-35 title-game victory over Chicago Heights in 1998 at New Orleans and a 60-50 title-contest decision over the Washington Jaguars in 1999. The Heat has captured the runner-up spot at International four times— at Racine in 1985, Newark in 1991 and 1996, and Tampa in 1995. Won the Small Fry Friendship Tournament in 1989 and 1992 and is making its 34th International appearance.

Glenbrook: The Magic returns to the field for the first time since 2000 and is making its fifth appearance overall. The best showing came in 1999 with a third-place finish in the initial International Tournament in Orlando.

Chicago Heights, Ill.: A five-time host of the International Tourney, the Green Streaks captured the 1980 title at home with a 51-46 victory over rival Homewood, then added the 1991 title at Newark with a 42-36 win over Highwood Small Fry. Also finished second in 1975 and 1998 and has qualified for a Midwest-best 16 straight International tourneys. Chicago Heights made three Final Fours in the 1990s and added a fourth-place finish in 2002.

Harvey Timberwolves: A qualifier for the fifth time and fourth time in five years, Harvey posted a best finish of 13th at Chicago Heights in 1988.

PUERTO RICO

Bucaplaa A: Following up a 56-49 championship game loss to St. Rocco in 2003, Bucaplaa captured its second crown with a 45-42 comeback title-game victory over Homewood last year. It was Bucaplaa's third title-game appearance, as it defeated Racine, 52-40, for the 1986 crown. A 13-time qualifier, Bucaplaa has made five Final Fours.

Constancia: A visitor to the field for the fifth time, Constancia last qualified in 2002 and shared the 2005 PR qualifying title with Bucaplaa and Hatillo. The best finish for Constancia came in Newark in 1996 with a fourth place.

Hatillo: A tri-champion in the Puerto Rico qualifier with a 13-1 mark, Hatillo posted a 1-3 record and eighth-place finish last year in its initial International showing.

Manati: This is the initial International appearance, but first-year Puerto Rican teams have captured the title on five occasions.

Santurce: Back for the first time since 2002, Santurce is making its third appearance overall after a fifth-place finish in 2000 and seventh place in 2002.