RUSHFORD, MN – Merchants Bank’s Money Ball will be coming back for a fourth year in 2017-2018 with three boys and three girls basketball games, according to Kari Johnson of Merchants Bank in Rushford.
Last year students received $1,180 in Money Ball payouts and the Rushford-Peterson Booster Club also received a matching payout of $1,180. That brings the total payout to $4,840 over the first three years of Merchants Bank’s Money Ball, with students and the booster club each receiving $2,420.
“The crowd really gets into pulling for the students, and it’s great that the booster club can benefit.” Johnson said. “It’s really a win for everyone.”
Student halftime participants are broken into two groups – fifth grade and younger and sixth grade and older. Participants have to register and are drawn randomly. Three participants, fifth grade and under, have 30 seconds to make shots, earning $5 for a made lay-up, $10 for a free throw, and $25 for a 3-pointer. Another three participants, sixth grade and over, also have 30 seconds, earning $10 for a made free throw, $25 for a 3-pointer and $100 for a half-court shot.
This year, the home games are:
• Boys Games:
12/7 vs. Spring Grove
1/23 vs. St. Charles
2/16 vs. La Crescent
• Girls Games:
12/5 vs. Caledonia
1/2 vs. Lanesboro
1/25 vs. Winona Cotter
Merchants Bank has 21 locations, including Minnesota locations in Rushford, Lanesboro, Winona, St. Charles, Goodview, Rochester, Caledonia, La Crescent, Spring Grove, Cannon Falls, Red Wing, Hampton, and the southern Twin Cities metropolitan suburbs of Apple Valley, Cottage Grove, Hastings, Lakeville and Rosemount. Merchants has Wisconsin locations in Eau Claire and Onalaska. Merchants Bank was founded in 1875. All banks are FDIC members. Merchants Bank Equipment Finance, the company’s leasing arm, is based in the Twin Cities.