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'Slammin' with the Pigs' youth hoops tourney tips off this weekend

Police Athletic League event will feature games at three locations today through Sunday.

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By Dave Greber, Staff Writer 1:34 AM Friday, July 9, 2010

HAMILTON — This weekend will feature a marriage of basketball and bacon as members of the Hamilton Police Athletic League gear up for their annual fundraiser.

In its second year as the league’s major event, the youth basketball tournament will be held at Miami University Hamilton, the Hamilton Freshman School and Bridgeport Elementary.

This weekend’s tournament, called “Slammin’ with the Pigs,” tips off at 6 p.m. today at each location, with games from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and final matches Sunday afternoon.

While the economy has had an impact on just how far teams are willing to travel for the tournament — last year, some hailed from as far as New Jersey — this year’s competition won’t miss a dribble, said Hamilton officer and local chapter board member Eric Taylor. This year, teams in two groups — 12 and younger and 13 to 16 — will be traveling from as far as Columbus and Lexington, Ky., he said.

The Hamilton chapter of the national nonprofit Police Athletic League works with local underprivileged children to support a healthy lifestyle and steer them away from negative choices and environments, Taylor said.

In Hamilton, that means taking hundreds of children each year fishing, to Kings Island or to Cincinnati Reds games. The local group also sponsors a youth basketball league at the Booker T. Washington Community Center and hosts mentoring sessions throughout the city.

“For us to do all that, it costs money,” Taylor said.

Admission is $4 for adults and $1 for children ages 4 to 12. Children younger than 4 are free.

Last year, the tournament netted the league nearly $6,000, he said. Every penny — with the exception of gym rentals and concessions for the tournament — will be spent on local youth, Taylor said.

In addition to having fun with the tournament and witnessing highly competitive games, Taylor said the event gives local police an opportunity to do more than write tickets or make arrests, providing a positive relationship with the community and its youth.

“We’re here not only to enforce, but to be a part of the community as well and give back,” Taylor said.

A full tournament schedule is available at www.slamminwiththepigs.com.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2112 or dgreber@coxohio.com.

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