VIDEO: The AYC basketball tournament was a roaring success!
- 12 hours ago
- 2 min read
Watch the Highlights! Learn why a tournament like this means so much to the Lakota community.
The energy on the court was amazing. We had an incredible turnout with over 40 kids lacing up to play, and a fantastic cheering section of parents and relatives that brought our total attendance to around 60 people!
The day kicked off early at 11 a.m., with a dedicated group of kids showing up to help us set everything up—fueled by some well-deserved pizza, of course. To keep the momentum going, we made sure the players had plenty of fresh-cut watermelon and ice-cold Gatorade available throughout the day. At the end of the tournament, we handed out ten $25 Visa gift cards and ten $15 Dairy Queen gift cards. Since DQ is one of the absolute favorite local spots for our kids, those prizes were a massive hit!
Events like this take a village, and our volunteers truly stepped up. A huge shoutout to Precious, our Community Support person, who was an absolute champ and refereed every single game. We also had parents volunteer to keep score, which led to some of the funniest moments of the day. Shoutout to "Uncle Jim," who was in charge of the number flipper and got a little mixed up. At one point, he confidently held up a score of "92 to 04" while the players looked at him in total confusion. It was hilarious and perfectly captured the fun, lighthearted vibe of the day.
But the absolute best part of the tournament? Watching our youth take true ownership of their center. From keeping time and assisting with the refereeing to carrying heavy tables back inside and picking up all the trash at the end of the day, their dedication was incredible to witness. Seeing them choose to care for this space made the whole day feel even more special.
We Couldn't Have Done It Without You
This tournament was the second goal of our fundraising campaign, and we want to send a massive THANK YOU to everyone who has donated so far. Your generosity made this unforgettable day a reality.
But we aren't stopping here. We still have crucial milestones to hit to ensure our youth center can continue to thrive.
As you can see, our upcoming goals include tackling much-needed HVAC repair costs and keeping the center's food pantry fully stocked for the families who rely on it.
We need your help to cross the finish line. Every contribution, big or small, directly impacts the kids in our community.
Click here to donate and help us reach our next goals:
Thank you for continuing to support our youth!
