The Sedona Fire District and other police and fire agencies from across the Verde Valley will hold a charity fundraising basketball game on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 5 p.m. at Mingus Union High School. Tickets are $5, with free entry for kids ages 5 and under. All proceeds will benefit the Mingus girls’ basketball team.
The charity game will pit firefighters from SFD, Cottonwood Fire Department, the Verde Valley Fire District and the Copper Canyon Fire and Medical District against police officers from departments across the Verde Valley.
“The last time we had the game, the police beat us, but we feel that was a fluke,” SFD Division Chief Jordan Baker said. “We want to get out, prove ourselves again, as fire agencies, and get that trophy back and reclaim our throne as the police versus fire champions.”
The event will also include a 50-50 raffle, a silent auction and a chance to win a 75-inch TV by sinking a half-court shot at halftime. Two lucky attendees will be drawn from among the holders of raffle tickets sold at the game to take their shot for the big prize. The Mingus girls’ basketball team will be running the concession stand.
“For those of you that have been around a while, you will remember this was an annual event held, raising money for various Sedona and Verde Valley youth athletics, senior citizen programs and other organizations in need,” SFD stated in a press release. “Although it has been some time since we held the game, an opportunity was presented to assist a program in need, and we were quick to jump on the occasion.”
Baker estimated that the last time the fundraiser was held was 2012, and said that the host venue formerly alternated between Sedona Red Rock and Mingus Union high schools.
“We do have a trophy that was passed back and forth in years past, so if we can find it, that will be there for the winner,” Baker said. “Winner gets to take the trophy for a year and display it proudly around their fire stations or police headquarters until next year’s game.”
Cottonwood Police Department Acting Chief Kevin Murie, who is leading the police team, did not have additional information on the whereabouts of the trophy.
“The last time we played, the police officers won, so they’ve got the trophy somewhere,” Baker said. “Hopefully we’ll be able to track that down and bring it to the game. If not, I’m sure we’ll find another one, but I’m pretty sure they’ve got it at one of their stations.”
In previous years, the firefighters’ strategy was to play a fast-paced game to keep the pressure on law enforcement.
“We never know what the other team’s going to bring as far as numbers and youth,” Baker said. “One of our strategies in the past always was to try to outrun the cops. But the main attraction will be watching a bunch of former athletes get out there and try to relive their glory days on the high school basketball court, and getting to witness them getting slapped in the face by Father Time and realizing we’re not in high school anymore.”
Baker remembered playing against Murie, who was still in high school at the time, in his first Battle of the Badges.
“I remember being very intimidated because I was playing against adults, but at the same time, having a little bit of cockiness behind me, because I was still in high school,” Murie said. ”Over the years, the competition has been awesome, and so I’m looking forward to bringing that back, and it’s now come full circle. Because now we have all these younger people in law enforcement and I’m one of the older guys.” “We have some younger, more athletic law enforcement folks that I think will provide some of the strength that we can outrun them. [Baker] told me that they have a lot of older guys,” Murie said.
“It’s a good opportunity to come out and see your public service personnel in a different format,” Baker said. “A lot of times we see people during emergency incidents, and this is a good opportunity for them to come out and see that we enjoy giving back to the community.”
