Dartmouth Girls Athletic League Crowns Champions in Holiday Tournament

All teams received trophies in the annual fundraising event for the youth basketball league.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The Dartmouth Girls Athletic League (DGAL) held its annual holiday basketball tournament from February 19-21, with teams representing different college programs facing off in grade-level divisions. The event served as a fundraiser for the league and allowed the young players to compete during their winter break.

Why it matters

The DGAL tournament provides an opportunity for girls in the Dartmouth community to stay active and engaged in sports during the winter months, while also supporting the financial needs of the youth basketball league through fundraising efforts.

The details

The tournament featured 14 teams across the second/third grade, fourth/fifth grade, and middle school divisions. Each division crowned a champion, with the second/third grade Duke team, the fourth/fifth grade UConn team, and the middle school Clemson team emerging victorious. In addition to the games, the event included a 50-50 raffle that raised $233 for the DGAL.

  • The tournament took place from Thursday, February 19 to Saturday, February 21, 2026.
  • The championship games were held on Saturday, February 21, 2026.

The players

Ryan Goyette

A coach for the fourth and fifth grade division of the DGAL.

Steve DeCosta

The commissioner of the DGAL and a coach for the middle school division.

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What they’re saying

“This is a fun little holiday tournament thing for us to raise money for the league and for the kids to play some basketball during the winter break when they're normally cooped up inside.”

— Ryan Goyette, Coach (theweektoday.com)

“It's been a long weekend, and it's been fun. The girls all had a blast. They played with their friends and it was good.”

— Steve DeCosta, Commissioner and Coach (theweektoday.com)

The takeaway

The DGAL tournament demonstrates the importance of providing young athletes, especially girls, with opportunities to stay active and engaged in sports during the offseason. The event's success in raising funds for the league also highlights the community's commitment to supporting youth athletics and promoting healthy lifestyles.