Limestone College basketball player Jamaal Dawkins soars over Blacksburg High’s Bryson Smith to finish a slam dunk. Dawkins received a standing ovation for his effort in a dunking contest held by Blacksburg High to raise money for tsunami relief.

Blacksburg High School and Limestone College basketball players matched wits Tuesday in a friendly slam dunk and 3-point contest to raise money for tsunami relief.

Former BHS standout Ben Touchberry along with Limestone teammates Sumner Benton, Shawn Poppie, Jamaal Dawkins and Antonio Golden participated in the basketball jam on their day off from practice. They were joined in the shooting contests by members of the Blacksburg boys’ and girls’ basketball teams as well as volunteers from the school’s student body.

Limestone College basketball player Antonio Golden aims a 3-pointer last week while competing in a Blacksburg High shooting contest for tsunami relief. All proceeds from the event will go to Samaritan’s Purse for tsunami relief efforts.

Blacksburg High teacher Sherri Beam had her World Geography classes spend time researching tsunamis and learning about the devastation of the Dec. 26, 2004, tsunami that has claimed more than 200,000 lives in Southeast Asia. She received help from Blacksburg High coaches Robbie Blanton, Travis Miller and Frank Harris in organizing the basketball jam.

Students researched and studied maps of the Asian countries involved, learned about the underwater earthquake and subsequent monstrous wave. The class also viewed a National Geographic special, “Tsunami: Day of Disaster.”

"We waited until February to research the horrifying event that unfolded on Dec. 26, 2004, because we knew the scope of the event would not be known until a few weeks after the disaster," Beam said. "My freshmen geography students were truly touched by the destruction and grief affecting large scores of people."

A school supplies cart was pushed around the school every morning to raise funds. During the week of Valentine’s Day, students or faculty could send messages of friendship and love over the school intercom by paying $1. Each student pledged to bring in a certain amount of donations by the end of the month.

“We appreciate all of the participants in the basketball jam,” Beam said. “Any folks who would like to contribute may write checks payable to BHS and we combine them all to send a single check to Samaritan’s Purse.”