This past weekend, middle school student-athletes from across Del Norte County, California, and Southern Oregon filled local gyms for the 51st Annual 2025–26 Jaycees Girls Basketball Tournament. With 48 teams competing across six divisions, the weekend was full of energy, teamwork, and moments that made the tournament a highlight of the middle school basketball season.

On the court, students showed skill and determination. Off the court, they demonstrated respect, sportsmanship, and support for one another—reminders of why youth athletics play such an important role in building confidence, character, and connection for young people.

Smith River earned the tournament’s Sportsmanship Award, a special recognition presented to the team that best exemplified positive conduct throughout the weekend. The award honors not just how a team competes, but how players, coaches, and supporters represent their school and community. Smith River will hold the perpetual trophy until next year’s tournament, when it will be returned and exchanged for a permanent keepsake.

That tradition continues on March 6–7, 2026, when Del Norte hosts the Jaycees Boys Basketball Tournament—another opportunity for students to compete, grow, and create lasting memories.