Hoops with Troops basketball tournament brings the base, community and local businesses together
By Joey Pitchford
Published in News on April 10, 2017 1:53 PM
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The Dillard Academy Youth team poses for a photo after receiving their medals Saturday. The team won the Hoops with Troops tournament in the 9-12 age bracket.
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Members of the Boys and Girls Club team pose with their medals at the Hoops with Troops basketball tournament Saturday. The team won the tournament in the 13-17 age bracket.
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Travis Briggs, 17, comes down from getting a rebound for the Dillard Academy Teens team Saturday during the Hoops for Troops fundraiser For Dillard Academy at Goldsboro High School.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Tyrie Drawhorn, 17, scores for the Dillard Academy Teens team Saturday during the Hoops for Troops fundraiser For Dillard Academy at Goldsboro High School.
The second annual Hoops with Troops basketball tournament took place at Goldsboro High School this weekend, with 24 teams competing across three age brackets.
The tournament began last year, when Dillard Academy Public Charter School after-school program employee Uhuru Ulyesse and other organizers decided to hold it at Dillard Middle School. This year's tournament included teams from 14 sponsors, including local businesses, Ulyesse, and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.
Ulyesse said the event was designed to bring together people from all over the Goldsboro community.
Hoops with Troops also serves as a fundraiser for Dillard Academy, which Ulyesse said has made a positive impact on the community through after-school programs, summer school and a food bank.
Games began around 10 a.m. on Saturday, and ran all the way through 4 p.m. Sunday evening. By the time they concluded, three teams had risen to the top.
In the 9-12 year-old bracket, Dillard Academy Youth came out ahead. The Boys and Girls Club team took first place in 13-17 year old bracket, and Harvey Moving Company's team won the 18 and older bracket.
Medals were presented to each of the winners by organizers Ulyesse, Thomas Smith and Mike Barbato.