Opening ceremonies kicked off in high gear when the Big Spring High School drum line entered the coliseum with their high energy and thunderous beat, West Texas Centers for MHMR CEO Shelley Smith, LMSW, said.

“They just add so much to the day. They get everyone keyed up and ready to play.”

Each team followed the drum line and entered the gym decked out in their respective uniforms and colors, followed by their cheerleaders, coaches and managers.

Smith and St. Rep. Joe Heflin welcomed the crowd of 750 people before the first ball was tipped to eager players.

The Big Spring Heat basketball team defeated the Sweetwater Rattlers in the final and championship game of the daylong tournament. Each team — the Big Spring Heat, Sweetwater Rattlers, Snyder Wildcats, Ballinger Longhorns, Seminole and Brownfield Pink Panthers, and the Monahans and Pecos Warriors — worked their way through bracket play in hopes of reaching the big game that had Big Spring pulling away late in the fourth quarter, sealing the win.

The Ballinger Longhorns won the best halftime show, and the Big Spring Heat won the Spirit Stick Award for maintaining a high level of enthusiasm throughout the day.

Each team was presented with a spirit stick award and a trophy, and all team members received participation trophies, Smith said. Alon USA also presented each team’s Most Valuable Player with $25 Wal-Mart gift cards.

“All of our players, cheerleaders and coaches are winners,” Smith said. “We wanted to recognize and award everyone for a job well done.”

New to the competition this year was the introduction of custom-made team uniforms for each player, Smith said.

The tournament coincides with Mental Retardation Awareness Month and is West Texas Centers for MHMR’s way of celebrating the month with their consumers and their families.

An added bonus to this year’s games will be photos and videos captured by Jim Purcell, president of State National Bank, and Midland-based ViaMedia, Smith said. “We are so appreciative of them taking the time to capture the memories of the event so that we can share this day over and over again.”

The tournament was sponsored by West Texas Centers for MHMR, Howard County ARC, Howard College, RX Services, KBST Radio, ALON USA and many other businesses, organizations and people from the counties served by West Texas Centers for MHMR.