BVI And South Carolina Teams Challenge USVI In MLK Basketball Tourney Starting This Weekend

ST. THOMAS — McDonald’s has announced its partnership for the second consecutive year with the St. Thomas and St. John Interscholastic Athletic Association and the USVI Department of Education, participating as the primary sponsor of the 23^rd Annual IAA/McDonald’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Varsity Basketball Invitational Tournament, a press release issued by MLB Creative, McDonald’s agent in the territory for advertising and promotions, has revealed.

“As the title sponsor, McDonald’s is proud to promote student athletes and an important legacy for the USVI,” said Gabriel Serber, managing director for Arcos Dorados Caribbean Region. “As a local family restaurant, we encourage families and children to participate in community sports activities, including youth basketball, school and junior tournaments.”

McDonald’s, together with the USVI Department of Education, will be presenting Scholastic Achievement Awards to two student athletes participating in the tournament. One male and one female student with top academic scores will be recognized during the trophy ceremony on Monday, January 18^th, after the games.

“We thank McDonald’s for their partnership and for supporting the student athletes of the Virgin Islands. Our goal is to continue to grow this event into a major tournament, attracting the best teams from the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and the US mainland,” said Mark J. Daniel, health & physical education coordinator for the USVI Department of Education.

The tournament welcomes a special guest team, from Gray Collegiate Academy in South Carolina. Local high school teams from Charlotte Amalie, Ivanna Eudora Kean, VI Montessori and Antilles School will represent the St. Thomas and St. John district. Central High, Educational Complex and St. Joseph’s will represent St. Croix. Rounding out the boys’ bracket are Elmore Stoutt High School and two newcomers Bregado Flax and St. Georges from the British Virgin Islands. The tournament will also feature six of the best girls’ teams in the territory.

IAA/McDonald’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Basketball Tournament games are scheduled for Friday, January 15^th through Monday, January 18^th. The championship games are scheduled for Monday, January 18^th at 10 am for the girls’ game, with the boys’ game to follow. All games will be held at the Charlotte Amalie High School gymnasium on St. Thomas, according to the release.