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Innovations' fifth graders scored their first victory on Saturday, October 6, 2001 as they blew the competition away in the South Kona elimination tournament held at Konawaena gymnasium. The tournament was sponsored by D.A.R.E (Drug Abuse Resistance Education). This talented team advances to play the winner of the North Kona division for the West Hawaii Division Championships to held January 5th at Kealakehe gym.

Each year, fifth grade students from across the island are invited to participate in this basketball tournament hosted by the Hawaii County Police Department D.A.R.E. Program (Drug Abuse Resistance Education). The tournament offers students an opportunity meet kids from other schools and gives parents a chance to be involved with their child in a fun athletic event.

D.A.R.E. provides the uniform tops, water jugs, cups and basketballs. D.A.R.E. officers serve as referees. Co-ed teams sign up and practice after school with parent coaches to ready themselves for the tournament. The island is divided into four regions - North, South, East, and West. Teams that win the regional playoffs advance to the regional championships and Hoops Challenge. The winner of North/South will play the East/West team champs for the distinction of becoming the Hoops Champions of the Big Island.

. . . and runs up and down the court for 3 hours defeating two teams. First they win round one and advance to the finals with only a 10 minute break. Round 2, our tired but excited team tackles Konawaena Elementary, a large team of about 14 players who came onto the court fresh. But the Innovations' team didn't miss a beat and proceeded to score the first basket. The rest was history. The action was so intense, we forgot to take pictures!!!