Annual tournament about more than just basketball

The event, which also includes a gospel concert, raises money for House of Prayer's Educational Youth Domestic Center.

Since he now lives in Dallas, Scott Porter doesn't find as much time as he would like to visit family and friends in Cape Girardeau.

But Porter always makes sure to clear a weekend in late August for a trip home.

"The only way I'd miss this is if I was held against my will, and I'd be kicking and screaming," a laughing Porter said during a mid-week telephone interview from Texas.

"This" is Slamfest, Cape Girardeau's popular outdoor basketball tournament that Porter started more than a decade ago and continues to be heavily involved in despite moving to Dallas three years ago.

"It's like one of my kids," Porter said.

The 14th annual Slamfest at Indian Park officially begins at 7 p.m. Friday with a gospel concert, although the actual games don't start until about 8 a.m. Saturday. Play also will start Sunday morning at around the same time, with the championship game scheduled for approximately 4 p.m.

"We should have another great tournament," Porter said.

Porter said he never envisioned Slamfest getting as big as it has.

"When I started it, I thought it would just be a nice little neighborhood get-together," he said.

But the first Slamfest attracted about 1,500 spectators. It has been a staple of outdoor basketball in Cape Girardeau ever since, annually attracting several thousand people for the weekend.

"It's just gotten bigger and bigger every year," Porter said. "I never expected it, but I'm glad it has."

Despite all the impressive basketball talent that annually spices Slamfest, Porter emphasized that the event is about much more than simply shooting hoops.

The tournament raises money for the House of Prayer Educational Youth Domestic Center in Cape Girardeau.

The event will have refreshment booths, carnival games for youngsters and plenty of gospel music by local choirs along with performers from out of town.

Porter said more than $10,000 has been raised each of the last few years, and he anticipates reaching that figure again.

"It's all about community unity, bringing people together, showing love for each other," Porter said. "We never have any problems. It's just a great event for the community."

The 10-team tournament annually includes quite a few former collegiate stars, and Porter said the talent level should be as good or better than ever.

Defending champion Heartland Insurance of Cape Girardeau will be back to try and repeat. Several other local squads, along with teams from St. Louis, Columbia, Tennessee, Poplar Bluff and Cairo, Ill., will compete.

"This tournament is always pretty wide open, you never know who's going to win," Porter said.

Slam-dunk, 3-point shooting and ball-handling contests will take place Sunday between games.

Porter credited Stafford Moore and LaTanya Thomas for playing major roles in helping organize Slamfest.

"With me living in Dallas, I can't do as much as I used to," Porter said. "Stafford and LaTanya, they're the co-directors, and they do 90 percent of the footwork. They're really the ones who make it all happen. I'm just the figurehead."

Porter also had praise for this year's corporate sponsor, Procter & Gamble.

"They've been great to us," Porter said.

Likewise, Porter expects another great all-around weekend.

"Hopefully everybody will continue to come out and support Slamfest," he said. "It's for a great cause and it's a lot of fun."