Location: Pixley Middle School, Pixley

Incident Date: 7/12/19

Incident Time: 0800 hours

City: Pixley

Posted by: Media Relations

More than 80 boys and girls dribbled up and down basketball courts Friday as part of the Sheriff’s inaugural 2-day FREE summer basketball camp. 

On behalf of Sheriff Mike Boudreaux, Captain Mark Gist opened the camp at Pixley Middle School. He told the 83 campers and their parents that the Sheriff’s Office wants to build upon their trust in law enforcement. 

“We, at the Sheriff’s Office, want to continue to build bridges in our communities that will last a lifetime,” he said. “Hoop it up and have fun.”

Leading the camp is former Harlem Globetrotter Myree “Reemix” Bowden with help from Mission Oak Basketball Coach Mario Flores and his varsity players. Also on staff are basketball players from California colleges, Lindsay High School Basketball Coach Frank Morin and David Morehead from Pixley Middle School.  

Deputies were also on hand to help out. The goal is to get youth involved in something other than gangs and drugs, Captain Gist said. 

“We want kids to be part of a team and to be part of our community,” he said. 

Earlier this week, TCSO partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias for a summer basketball league. Many of the youth at the basketball camp are also participating in the 5-week-long basketball league.  

Offering youth sports is a new endeavor for the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office. 

In the spring, TCSO had a successful NFL Flag Football League that involved 250 boys and girls at Ivanhoe Elementary School. From that program, Sheriff Boudreaux formed a new unit, the Youth Services Development Unit, headed by Lt. Harold Liles. 

Captain Mark Gist thanked Pixley Middle School for the use of its gymnasium and the Deputy Sheriff’s Association for helping sponsor the camp.