THE GREENWOOD JUNIOR Little Dribblers team takes its place at center court during opening ceremonies of the national tournament played in Fairfield. Prior to the ceremony, teams made their own entertainment by dancing around the gymnasium in conga lines to music played over the public address system. The Fairfield Little Dribblers senior team won a championship crown at the National Tournament held last week in Fairfield, marking the third national title the squad has won over the years.

In 2006 the quintet claimed a junior division national championship and in 2008 they won the major division championship.

Five basketball players who played on all three championship teams are Kayli Banks, Tiara Tatum, Karonesha Lowery, Caitlynn Stone and Ainsley Richardson.

Rounding out the 2010 squad were Susan Owens, Jaida Smith, Keyosha Bass, Madison Alexander, Kamry Whitehead and Hannah Spradlin.

JUNIOR DIVISION PLAYER Emily Knight dribbles around a Bowie defender in first round national tournament action. The team was coached by Amelia Tatum, Yokoletha Nelms and Cheryl Stone.

Fairfield was host to six separate tournaments which ran Wednesday through Saturday.

National League teams are from towns of more than 10,000 population and American League teams are from towns of less than 10,000 population.

The two leagues are divided into age groups designated juniors, majors and seniors.

The Fairfield senior team defeated Twin Counties 39-20 in the title game, the second time the teams faced each other in the tourney.

Fairfield senior cagers opened their championship run with a first round victory over Palestine Westwood, then defeated Brownsboro, Twin Counties and Livingston to make it to the final game.

Twin Counties opened with a win against Anahuac, but the loss to Fairfield sent them to the loser’s bracket and a long march to the title tilt.

MAJOR DIVISION CAGER Jocelynn Johnson looks for an opening against a Canton defender. The Fairfield junior team started with a 25-9 win against Bowie, lost a second round contest to Livingston and bowed out of the tourney in a loss to Canton.

Shallowater beat Brownsboro 38-23 in the American junior championship game to take the crown.

Playing on the Fairfield junior squad were Britain Bossier, Joanna Zamora, Belle Johnson, Tanna Lide, Emily Knight, Lauran Adcock, Carrington Roberts, Ivieya Daniels, Bailey Warren, Blair Harris, Kamri Griffin, Kylie Swinson and Josie Richardson.

The juniors were coached by Ren Roberts, Craig Knight and Danny Richardson.

The American major title went to another Shallowater team, with a final game win over Twin Counties, 34-22.

FAIRFIELD SENIOR TEAM player Caitlynn Stone tries to take a shot over a Palestine Westwood defender. Fairfield majors scored a first round win over Canton, lost to Madisonville, beat Gulf Coast and fell to Twin Counties.

Members of the Fairfield majors squad were Erica Lyle, Elena Gallegos, Brandi Carter, Kaitln Diaz, Jocelynn Johnson, Jasmine Osuna, Brandi Green, Lauren Cole, Keara Birdow, Da’meka Shed, Cassidy Warren, Brooke Bossier and Kimberly Hayes.

The majors were coached by Billy McMillian, Weldon Alexander and Tracie Warren.

Navasota defeated Levelland 27-24 in the finals to claim a national senior championship. En route to the tourney crown, Navasoto also beat Mexia and Levelland in an earlier game.

Mexia won the national major crown with a championship game victory over Georgetown, 29-25. After a first round win against Navasota, Mexia fell to Georgetown to drop into the losers’ bracket, then beat Scurry County, Levelland, Jacksonville and Barbers Hill to reach the title tilt.

The national junior championship was won by Mexia in a 38-22 game against Scurry County. Mexia beat Bryan in the first round of the tourney, then beat Scorry County, Barbers Hill and Lumberton to reach the championship game.