Basketball tourney planned to help build community

Friendly competition on the court and a spirit of community are the game plan at a basketball tournament planned Labor Day weekend at South Lorain’s Oakwood Park.

The first Grind League 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament runs from noon to 8 p.m., Sept. 5 and 6, at the park, 2047 E. 36th St.

The tournament has a simple goal: provide something for Lorain residents, said organizers Darius Price-Smith and Darius Winborn, Lorain residents who have been friends since boyhood.

“Basically, we’ve been planning this for a while to do something positive in the city, give something back,” said Winborn, whose stage handle is DJ D*Grind.

The event will include music, vendors and food available for purchase.

Lorain rapper and songwriter Benjamin Bill has promoted the event and will perform, and Winborn also will be on the mic with other DJs.

Teams signed up and their entrance fee will cover the cost of custom jerseys.

There will be a limited number of same-day sign ups for teams.

The cost is $50 per team, and players will get to keep their jerseys.

“The earlier people can get there, the better, because we only have a few more team spots available,” Winborn said.

Registration will close at 1 p.m.

Otherwise, the event is family friendly, free and open to anyone.

Planning the tournament started weeks ago, before July 4, Winborn said.

People began returning to work after closures due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

An indoor tournament is possible in the future, but the outdoor event allows people to practice social distancing to respect others’ health, the planners said.

Masks are strongly encouraged and there will be a sanitation station at the park’s basketball courts.

On Aug. 22, tragedy struck South Lorain when a shooting at Oakwood Park claimed the life of 14-yearold Denzyl “Zell” Williams, who was at the park playing basketball.

After the incident, people asked the planners if they would cancel, but they did not want to let the tragedy stop the event, Winborn said.

“It wouldn’t serve its purpose if we waited till next year,” he said. “We’ve got to be the light out there.”

In planning the event, Winborn said he returns to the phrase “community unity.”

Even if residents don’t know their neighbors’ last names, they should be able to walk around and come together for a day to enjoy each other’s grace and presence, he said.

“It’s for mourning, it’s for celebrating life, it’s for coming together,” Winborn said. “We’re going to be uplifting, we’re going to have fun, it’s going to be safe.”

“We just want to come out and have a good, safe time,” Price-Smith said.