ST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands — Attendance at the St. Thomas Branch on Sunday, Nov. 24, jumped from its usual 20-30 to 138 as BYU basketball players and coaches, university officials and traveling alumni attended. BYU was in St. Thomas to take part in the six-team Paradise Jam college basketball tournament.
Many visiting members stepped in to help with the meetings during the block, volunteering to play the piano or help with children and youth classes, giving prayers and speaking in sacrament meeting.
There was about 15 minutes remaining in sacrament meeting when the three scheduled speakers had concluded their remarks. Branch President Joseph W. Hodges, a local member, asked two players, Travis Hansen and Mark Bigelow, to make some remarks, followed by head coach Steve Cleveland.
Later that day, the basketball team returned to the meetinghouse, as did many of the 130-plus who had attended sacrament meeting, for a fireside for the St. Thomas and St. Johns branches featuring the team. Speaking were Mark Bigelow, Ricky Bower, Terry Nashif and Dan Howard. Howard, who is 7-feet tall, had to deftly duck to avoid the several ceiling fans that spun at his eye level. All four players are returned missionaries and they spoke on their love for the gospel and the Savior, sharing testimonies and mission experiences.
After competing in the six-team tournament, the BYU basketball team brought home the Paradise Jam championship trophy from St. Thomas. Playing at the new 3,000-seat Sport and Fitness Center of the University of the Virgin Islands, BYU opened the tournament by beating Toledo, 71-56. Saturday, the Cougars knocked off Kansas State, 73-64, and then beat St. Bonaventure, 66-57, in the title contest.
The BYU fans hit the local newspaper in St. Thomas on Tuesday as members and missionaries were predominant in a crowd shot on the front page.
