The Tribune

By TENAJH SWEETING

Tribune Sports Reporter

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

The 27th edition of the “Peace on Da Streets” Basketball Classic will return to the Hope Center basketball courts, July 24-30. The community basketball event will feature five divisions including the 13 and under, 16 and under, 19 and under, church and open division. For the latter, the team which emerges victorious will go home with a cash prize of $3,000.

The basketball classic, which has been in existence since 1995, will not only give athletes an opportunity to play in an organised tournament but will also keep their focus away from crime.

Carlos Reid, event organiser, talked about the purpose of the basketball classic event.

“We believe that if we can encourage young men to shoot hoops then they do not have to shoot guns so that is the gist of why we do the tournament . . . we need to encourage our young men to do something positive rather than them having to do something negative to end up in the Magistrate or Supreme Court,” Reid said.

Registration for the “Peace on Da Streets” Basketball classic recently opened in May and will close on July 14.

Therefore, Reid is encouraging potential teams to register via the “Peace on Da Street” Facebook Page using the QR Code. Among the teams that are currently expected to compete are the Politicians, Pastors, Pirates, and the defending champions, the Team Rotary East Hype.

This year’s event will also include the IHOP-sponsored slam dunk contest, and Mr Ship it three-point contest. Additionally, there will be a free throw contest between the Lady Pastors and Lady Politicians as one of the newest elements of the basketball classic.

Reid encouraged Bahamians to come out and support the Bahamian basketball showdown.

“This tournament is where persons who are on holiday from school look to participate because this is a tournament where all of the ballers in The Bahamas want to win for bragging rights,” he said.

He also expects college scouts to be in attendance to watch the play of the ballers in the tournament which will present them the opportunity to be granted scholarships.

Although most of the teams will be males, Reid hopes to see more of an interest from their female counterparts for the yearly tournament.

“In the past we tried to include girls teams three times but the best we ever had was three teams that signed up . . . if we see where we can get a contingent of female teams we will be open to the possibility of making that happen,” the event organiser said.

With registration now underway, the basketball classic will also need volunteers. Individuals that are interested can also use the “Peace on Da Street” Facebook Page to sign up.

The event kicks off on the Hope Center basketball courts at 5pm on July 24.