Lakewood Police DARE Basketball Tournament Set For April 18

The Lakewood Police Department DARE Unit will present its 15th annual basketball tournament for fifth grade students on Saturday, April 18.

The tournament tips off at 9 a.m., and the championship game begins at 2 p.m. This year’s tournament will take place in the gymnasium at Garfield Middle School at 13114 Detroit Avenue.

Admission is free, and all are welcome to attend. 

Teams from each of Lakewood’s seven public elementary schools will compete against each other in a single elimination tournament format. Staff members or parents from each school coach the teams voluntarily, while the tournament itself is staffed entirely by Lakewood police officers.

Uniform T-shirts are provided for the players and coaches through donations given by various Lakewood businesses. Lakewood Athletic Boosters will provide concessions at the tournament.

This year, the Lakewood Division of Police is partnering with the Lakewood Community Services Center to collect donations, monetary, non-perishable food items, or hygiene products between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the lobby during the tournament.

Officers and volunteers will be collecting the items, which will then be donated, to the Lakewood Community Services Center. Attendees who bring a donation will receive one raffle ticket to win a prize.