The Victory Valley Royals basketball club held its first schools’ basketball championship in April of 2005. The idea of such a championship was generated from the observation of a lack of developmental sporting leagues within the schools and community as a whole. The club with it’s commitment to the development of basketball took up the mantle and produced a schools’ tournament of enviable proportions. The prizes and equipments furnished annually makes it second to none when compared with any other basketball tournament at any level in Guyana. The initial championship saw the participation of the five secondary schools namely Mackenzie High, Linden Foundation, Wismar Christianburg Secondary, Silvercity Secondary, Wisburg Secondary along with the Linden Technical Institute competing for the right to be named the number one basketball school in the mining town. First, second and third place trophies with replicas, a lien trophy, fourth place trophy plus twelve individual awards were up for grabs. Each school was presented with one dozen tournament t-shirts along with basketballs to assist in their pre-tournament preparations.
The tournament was played on a round-robin format with the top four teams going through to the playoff or semi-final round. The first semi-final saw Mackenzie High School getting the better of Linden Technical Institute while Wismar Christianburg Secondary took care of Linden Foundation in the second semi-final. The finals which was graced with the presence of President Bharrat Jagdeo and witnessed by a large crowd of enthusiastic supporters saw Wismar Christianburg Secondary coming from behind to beat Mackenzie High in an exciting final thereby giving them the first lien on the Wayne “Buturu” Bryan trophy. Neil Chance of Wismar Christianburg Secondary took home the MVP honors along with trophies for the best defensive player and player with the most rebounds. The third place playoff was won by Linden Technical Institute with Linden Foundation finishing fourth. Among those who contributed to the staging of the tournament was Michael Lam’s Home Improvement of Maryland, Copy King who printed the t-shirts at a reduced price, Ms. Vanessa Davidson, Ms. Sabeta Singh, Kevin Easton, Laurie Liverpool, Marlon Josiah, Roshan Alli Shipping, Jason Jeffrey, Owusu Gillis and Wayne “Buturu” Bryan

2006 saw New Silvercity Secondary upsetting previously unbeaten Linden Technical Institute in the first semi-final while Mackenzie High took care of Linden Foundation Secondary in the second semi-final after defending champions Wismar Christianburg Secondary failed to make the playoffs. Mackenzie High led by Roderick Alphonso MVP, Curtis Gravesande best defensive player and Kerwin Williams highest scorer then defeated New Silvercity Secondary in the final to claim their first title. In the third place playoff, Linden Foundation beat Linden Technical Institute. The key sponsors for this tournament were Sybil’s Restaurant and Bakery of New York, Michael Lam’s Home Improvement of Maryland, Legendary Printing of Ozone Park, Queens who part sponsored the T-shirts, Linden United Sports Association of New York, Marlon Josiah, Leon Moe and Kenrick Harvey.

In 2007 Linden Technical Institute notched their first lien on the Wayne “Buturu” Bryan trophy when they came from behind in the final four minutes to beat New Silvercity Secondary in the finals after beating Mackenzie High in their semi-final. New Silvercity had previously beaten Linden Foundation in the first semi-final. Mackenzie High finished third with Linden Foundation finishing fourth. Jevon Nelson was named MVP and also won trophies for most rebounds in the championship game as well as the highest individual scorer in the tournament. Two long serving Victory Valley Royals members Troy Jeffrey and Alfie Fraser were honored for their commitment and dedication to the club. Tournament sponsors included Ms. Vanessa Davidson, Ms. Audrey Singh, Leon Moe, Marlon Josiah, Orin Louison, Lennox Allicock, Maxi Stevens, Shan Henry and Legendary Printing.

The tournament which has remained with its initial format is organized and coordinated solely by the Victory Valley Royals basketball club and sanctioned by the Linden Amateur Basketball Association. The wheels are already in motion for the 2008 championships which will definitely see an improvement in presentation with new sponsors coming on board. The Victory Valley Royals basketball club is grateful to the following persons whose continued contribution has been instrumental in the successful staging of this tournament; Regional Education Department of Region 10, Gary Tim, Royston Telford, Far End Carib Bar, Ashton and Marcy Angel, Guymine.com, Ray Charles of L.E.A.P., Movements Sound System and Marlon aka. Platinum