Grand Rapids resident Jock Osborne shows his winnings at the CP Federal Slam Dunk Contest at the Gus Macker Basketball Tournament Saturday. Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.
By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports
Grand Rapids resident Jock Osborne had been retired from winning slam dunk contests at Gus Macker basketball tournaments.
That was until he learned the top prize in the CP Federal City Slam Dunk Contest in Jackson at the Gus Macker Jackson tournament was offering a top prize – the only one – of $1,000.
Osborne, 35, said he has won more than 10 slam dunk contests and the prize drew him out of his self-imposed retirement.
He defeated Michigan Center High School graduate Connor Pelham and 13 other participants for the top prize.
More than 1,500 people witnessed the slam dunk contest on the Dream Court Saturday afternoon. The reaction of the crowd determined who moved on in round one.
Pelham missed his first dunk of the day, but the Adrian College basketball player was brought back by the crowd.
Five advanced to the semifinal round, and Pelham and Osborne made the finals.
Osborne missed his first dunk in the finals – named the return of Superman. He was known as Superman for his dunking prowess.
“I thought I was done (in the finals) because I was not the crowd favorite,” Osborne said.
Judges from CP Federal Credit Union ruled the finals was a tie following a make by Pelham on his dunk.
Osborne used the return of Superman dunk in the second round – but made it this time.
Pelham jumped over two basketball players for his final dunk. Osborne was named as the winner via the judges voting. The Grand Rapids resident has not participated in a dunk contest in a number of years, but the possibility of winning cash made it sweet.
Being a little older and a little wiser, Osborne said he would use the money to pay bills.
Play for the Gus Macker Jackson tournament started Friday night with the County National Bank Heroes Tournament.
A quick-shoot tournament was held right before the slam dunk contest.
Play concludes Sunday with champions in all of the divisions.
The tournament returned to Jackson in 2018 after nearly a two-decade hiatus. The 2019 tournament has 80 more teams as compared to last year.
Photos by Jeff Steers/JTV Sports
