MANSFIELD — The smoke cleared, the storms stayed away and the Tyger Park Takeover roared through the city on a steamy Saturday afternoon.
Playground rules were in effect as the rolling basketball caravan visited five city parks, introducing a new generation to the hardscrabble outdoor basketball game.
Each made bucket was worth one point and the first team to 10 won. Foul calls were few and far between.
The losing team owed the event’s organizers, Mansfield Senior boys coach Marquis Sykes and Senior High girls coach Sierra Hardin, 10 push-ups.
“There’s a level of toughness that comes from playing at the playground,” said Sykes, a product of the city’s parks who starred at Senior High and Division I Morehead State. “At our first stop (at Maple Park) we had some kids whining a little bit about getting bumped and knocked down. We told them to toughen up and play through it.
“Here at our second stop (King Street Park), it got a little better. Hopefully by the end of the day we won’t hear any more crying about fouls.”
In addition to Maple and King, the migrating event was to visit Johns Park, John Todd Park and Prospect Park as long as the weather held.
There was some concern the event would have to be canceled because of the Canadian wildfire smoke that blanketed the area the past two days. Overnight showers helped clear the air and projected severe storms steered clear of the city until around 5 p.m.
“We were so worried last night,” said Hardin, a 2007 Mansfield Senior product. “We were glad it rained last night because it really improved the air quality.”
Temperatures hovered in the mid-80s Saturday with real-feel values in the lower-90s. Games were paused periodically for hydration breaks. The 30 or so kids who attended the King Street Park leg of the event took advantage of water and sports drinks provided by community sponsors.
“A lot of people donated to the event and they have stopped out to show their support,” Sykes said. “The community has stepped up in a big way.”
Sykes wore a custom bucket hat with the words, “John’s Park University Alumni,” embroidered on the front.
“A close friend of mine designs hats and I just so happen to be in his circle,” said Sykes, who spent countless hours refining his game at Johns Park. “There’s not a lot of these hats floating around out there. I was fortunate enough to get my hands on one.”
Both Sykes and Hardin hope the event sparks a revival of the outdoor game.
“We want to give kids an opportunity to play. As coaches, that is our responsibility,” said Hardin, who grew up playing at Liberty Park and Prospect Park with her father and brother. “Playing at the park creates a toughness you won’t find anywhere else.”