With school having already started for the county, and everyone else starting within the next two weeks local police and fire departments threw their first ever 911 Roundball Tournament to buy school supplies for area kids.

With all the proceeds going to PALS to buy school supplies, those who came to watch the games weren’t disappointed.

The first game

featured the Selma Fire Department against the Dallas County Sheriff’s department. The action was heated throughout the first game with the sheriffs department able to pull within one with one minute left. The fire fighters held on to take the first game and advance to the finals with a 72-69 victory.

The Marion Police Department and the Selma Police Department went at it in the second game of the day. The Marion Police Department took the game 63-50 to advance to the finals to play the Selma Fire Department.

In the concilation game, the Selma Police Department took on the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department. The deputies took an early 10 point lead and never looked back. At the half, the sheriff’s department still lead by 10. By the end of the third period, the sheriff’s department was up by 20. They easily won 86-49, and ended the game with two dunks to take the third place trophy.

In the finals, the Selma Fire Department took on the Marion Police Department, and it was close all the way to the buzzer.

At the end of the first period the Selma Fire Department had a slim 2-point lead. When the buzzer sounded at the half, the Marion Police Department had cut the margin in half to one point, after tying it several times and actually taking the lead twice. At the end of the third period, the Selma Fire Department had a 4-point lead, and actually looked like they might pull away to end the game.

But the Marion Police still had some fight in them. With less than two minutes left, Marion made three consecutive 3-pointers to cut the margin to three points. They could get no closer and lost to the Selma Fire Department 66-63.

With gate proceeds and concession stand sales all going directly to PALS, the tournament was a success, and will help the

purchase of school supplies for needy children.