YOUNG ATHLETES navigate the court under the bright gym lights, accompanied by the rhythmic bounce of basketballs and the swish of nets. The Fayetteville Lions Club Basketball Tip-Off Classic is in full swing. Families and fans fill the bleachers while Lions Club volunteers manage ticket sales, programs, concessions, and scorekeeping. The atmosphere buzzes with youthful ambition and community pride as the club celebrates its commitment to nurturing local talent and promoting a love for basketball.
While the event provides an opportunity for teams to get their first glances at their opponents, it also connects coaches and players from teams that might otherwise not cross paths. It doesn’t just kick off the new season; the young players, whether they realize it or not, participate in saving the sight and hearing of children in the Fayetteville and Lincoln County communities. There really are no losers in these games.
Lion Chris Ross, the event’s chairman, explained, “The funds raised from this basketball classic continue to support our efforts throughout all the schools in Lincoln County with the vision and hearing screenings. The state requires these to be done every two years on the students, and either the school system pays for it or the Lions Club comes in and does it cost-free. So it’s a win-win for the teams to have these preseason scrimmages. Then, in return, we’re giving back to the day cares and Fayetteville City, Riverside Christian Academy, and Lincoln County schools, providing their vision and hearing screening at no cost.”
Everything moves quickly. Teams play games consisting of four periods, five minutes each. Halftime is five minutes long, and there are about five minutes between games for the following teams to warm up before the next tip-off.
Ross, who is also the scorekeeper, said about the event’s days and pace, “It’s a hustling day — a long day — but it’s worth it. The kids, coaches, and the parents seem to have fun, too.”
Now in its 44th year, organizing the Tip-Off has become increasingly challenging. Changes in the Tennessee Middle School Athletics Association (TMSAA) rules compressed the preseason schedule, forcing the club to adapt and balance between school calendars, sports regulations, and the meet’s traditional timing. Still, the Lions remain committed to the event. They’ve maintained an affordable $5 ticket price to ensure community accessibility, relying heavily on ad sales in their program to offset costs.
“We really couldn’t put this event on without those sponsors and supporters,” Ross emphasized.
He also acknowledged the priceless assistance of others in planning and organizing the event, like Flintville School Principal David Golden.
Golden meticulously organizes the basketball schedules for the region, a task that requires careful coordination and communication with multiple schools. His process begins by developing the brackets for the Middle Tennessee Southeast Conference, ensuring that all participating schools in Section 2, including Areas 12 through 16, receive the necessary informational packets. Once Golden finalizes these brackets and dates, he shifts his focus to creating the regular season schedule for the conference. This schedule includes local teams such as Blanche, Flintville, Unity School, South Lincoln, Highland Rim, and Fayetteville City. As the regular season games take shape, Golden collaborates with Ross to establish the schedule for the Tip-Off.
“Obviously, there are challenges to this as Mr. Ross works with other schools from other counties and districts outside of our conference teams. First, we must begin communicating with Mrs. Christy Wright, the principal at Lincoln Central Academy, to reserve the gym. She is always great to work with and always makes sure we have that week blocked off for use of their gymnasium. When we put this together, we must be aware that teams who participate in the TMSAA only have a certain amount of games they are allowed to participate in before the tournaments, so we use these games as play dates and do not count as wins or losses. We have to work around their schedules as many teams begin their regular season games during that week. With hard work and cooperation from everyone, we have been able to make this happen,” Golden shared.
Ross added, “We are grateful to Flintville Principal David Golden for his assistance with scheduling, Lincoln Central Academy Principal Christy Wright for coordinating her school and gym schedules, and Steve Cunningham for volunteering his time and talents to announce the games and bring them to life with his vibrant energy!”
Golden played in the Tip-Off as a student and fondly recalls those games.
“My earliest memory goes back to when I was a student at the old Flintville Elementary and Flintville Jr. High schools. The Lion’s Club always would put on preseason and postseason tournaments for our schools. It was so much fun to play in and try to win the county championship for the elementary school division and then jr. high junior varsity division,” he said.
Today, he deeply appreciates the event and all involved, including the Fayetteville Lions Club, Ross, the referees, and the participating teams.
Golden reflected, “The biggest reward is knowing that all of our students have the opportunity to benefit from the funds raised. Working with all the schools’ administrations, coaches, and parents to build positive relationships is an incredible reward. On a personal level, this is something that I personally enjoy because I have so many friends within our district and our region.”
It’s a series of scrimmages to the outside world, but the Tip-Off’s impact builds friendships and unites teams on and off the court in life-changing ways. A student hears the cheers and the ball’s slap as it lands in the player’s hands following a strong pass. Another child sees the faces in the crowd clearly for the first time. Yes, each dribble and shot prepares players for the season ahead, but the bustling atmosphere is not just a competition. It’s the melting pot of true victory – the spirit of giving back, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive. GN
