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Public safety sponsors Basketball Shoot-Out
By William Jeske
More than 200 middle school students from both public and private schools within Sunnyvale convened at the Columbia Neighborhood Center to run a little hoops. Six Neighborhood Resource Officers played referee to several seventh- and eighth-grade athletes for the eighth annual Basketball Shoot-Out Finals.
Officers visited schools over the past three weeks, inviting all students, regardless of ability, to try to qualify for the finals held Feb. 1.
"We do this every year to help the middle school kids interact with law enforcement," Lt. Glen Fortin said.
The set-up was to have students compete individually in their respective gender and grades in trying to make as many baskets in 60 seconds from various free-throw stations around the half-courts.
For a little less than two hours the Columbia Neighborhood Center's gymnasium thumped to the erratic bouncing of basketballs off backboards and court floors as students raced against time to score as many baskets as possible.
Adding to the noise was Officer Ralph Chavez, pulling triple duty as timekeeper, officiator and DJ, with his turntable equipment and loudspeakers pounding out dance music.
Winners would make up four each for first and second place--two in each grade, one each per gender.
First place winners took home a $100 savings bond from Union Bank of California. Runners-up received a $50 savings bond. All eight winners would take home a basketball, and everyone who participated took home T-shirts commemorating the Shoot-Out.
Things got tense for the seventh grade girls when it came down to the two best throwers, and a winner needed to be determined after two tense tie-breaker shoot-outs.
Cheryl Ishikawa and Jacqueline Besjardin took turns racing and shooting around the half court until eventually Besjardin won.
Seventh-grader Chris Lundin took first place for the boys division, scoring 17 baskets in 60 seconds. Though Lundin plays on his school's team, basketball really isn't his sport.
"I'm better at baseball," Lundin said. "Just have fun and do your best."
Eighth-grader Tracy Esposo placed second in the girls division, scoring 14 baskets in 60 seconds. Esposo also plays for her school's basketball team. Her only advice for students wanting to do well at future Shoot-Outs is "practice."
This is Chavez's second year as Shoot-Out organizer, and he said he plans to repeat this duty.
"This is definitely something I look forward to each year," Chavez said.
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Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
