Cheers echoed off the walls of the Audie Henneman Gymnasium at Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School, mixing with the squeak of sneakers and the rhythmic bounce of basketballs. Adults filled the stands while kids crowded the sidelines, seizing every opportunity to practice their shots and dribbles between games. This was more than a tournament – it was a haven.
For 10 years now, the Roy Petersen Sr. Memorial Basketball Tournament has transformed local basketball courts into sacred grounds. Roy Petersen Sr. was just 56 years old when he lost his life to a stray bullet in February 2009. His tragic death shook the U.S. Virgin Islands community, leaving behind a grieving family and an unfinished legacy. His daughter, Makeda Petersen-Turnbull, decided in 2014 that his life would not go in vain. She would honor his memory by hosting an annual tournament grounded in everything he stood for: joy, unity, and community.
A decade later, that promise is alive and thriving.
This year’s tournament spanned two weekends of competition. From May 30 to June 1, the gym buzzed with the energy of the 40+ men’s division, the women’s and girls’ brackets, and the highly anticipated men’s 19–21 category. The second weekend, from June 5 to 8, saw the younger players take center stage, featuring 10U, 12U, 15U, and 18U divisions, as well as a dedicated girls’ bracket.
A total of 27 teams competed across both weekends, nearly four times more than when the tournament began in 2014.
“Seeing this unity between kids from all three U.S. Virgin Islands — it’s what my father would have wanted,” said Petersen-Turnbull, tears flowing down her face as she reflected on a decade of hard, healing work. “Watching my children grow up and fall in love with basketball the same way my father did — there aren’t even words to describe the feeling.”
Her daughter, 10-year-old Amaya Turnbull, has attended every tournament since birth. She was still in the womb during the very first one. This year, she stepped onto the court not as a spectator, but as a player.
“Basketball didn’t appeal to her at first,” Petersen-Turnbull said with a laugh. “But it’s in the blood. Playing was never a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when.’”
Turnbull now describes the game as “fun” — a simple word carrying the weight of a decade of love, labor, and legacy.
For her older brother, Amani Turnbull, the tournament is about more than basketball. It is about connection. “It’s special to see so many people gathered together in my grandfather’s honor,” he said. “Even though he’s not around to create memories, the tournament fills that void in a way.”
His message to local youth: “Never forget — you only have one life.”
The tournament has become one of the largest recreational basketball events in the territory, with crowds growing bigger each year and anticipation rippling through the community long before the opening tip. Family matriarch Estellita Petersen says she is “blown away” by how much the tournament has grown.
“The community support humbles me,” she said. “Every year, these kids show up. And it brings me peace knowing that if they’re in the gym, they’re not on the street.”
Winners from each age bracket were celebrated across both weekends, with dozens of players recognized for their standout performances. Competitors, game results, and award recipients are listed on the Roy Petersen Sr. Foundation Facebook page.
“This has grown into something so beautiful,” Petersen-Turnbull smiled. “It’s about community, being present for one another and making sure my father’s name is associated with love, not loss.”
This year’s tournament came to a suspenseful close as the last in the family’s initial plan. “This takes a lot — a lot of time, hard work and resources,” Petersen said. “We only planned to host it for 10 years, but it’s not slowing down. The community keeps showing up, and we want to keep showing up for them.”
“Transparently, we need the support of businesses and community members to continue making this tournament possible,” Petersen-Turnbull shared.
Anyone who would like to contribute can reach out via email at RoyPetersenSr@gmail.com or through the Roy Petersen Sr. Foundation Facebook page.
What started as a way to remember one man has become a widely cherished outlet for the community to enjoy top-notch competition while protecting local youth, and a reason to keep showing up for each other.
