WPD, Sheriff’s office face off on basketball court

WILMINGTON — Wilmington Police faced off against the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office on the basketball court.

Saturday the two law enforcement agencies competed against each other at New Hanover High’s Brodgen Hall in the annual Big Buddy basketball game.

WWAY’s Kaci Christian emceed the event and threw the game’s opening jump ball. On the court there’s a heated and historic rivalry between the two departments, but off the court, both agree that the game is just entertainment for a good cause.

Derrick Vann said, “They see it’s a sport that a lot of kids love and they want to watch and they see their fellow officers or higher officers doing it and they want to be a part of that and it gives them something to look for in life.”

The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office held their title once again as winners. The final score was 60 to 54.

Proceeds from the event benefit the Cape Fear Volunteer Center’s Big Buddy mentoring program for at-risk youth.