[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 11150]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATING VIRGIN ISLANDS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM, AND THANKING 
           RAKEEM CHRISTMAS AND THE CHIRSTIANSTED HILLSIDERS

  (Ms. PLASKETT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to congratulate the Virgin 
Islands women's basketball team on winning the gold medal at the 2017 
Centrobasket Championship and finishing the tournament with a 4-1 
record. They beat out teams from Mexico, Central America, and the 
Caribbean.
  I particularly want to congratulate Natalie Day, who was named MVP, 
with a tournament double-double average, 18.6 points and 11 rebounds 
per game.
  Good luck to the Virgin Islands women's team at the FIBA Women's 
AmeriCup 2017 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. We are rooting for you.
  I also want to congratulate another Virgin Islander, Rakeem 
Christmas, who, for the last 2 years, has played center for the NBA's 
Indiana Pacers.
  I want to thank Rakeem for returning home to St. Croix repeatedly and 
hosting a series of youth events, and for opening a basketball court 
funded by his foundation for the Frederiksted Boys and Girls Club. He 
and other athletes will coach basketball camps on St. Thomas and St. 
Croix this week, with the highlight of an all-star competition on St. 
Croix's Educational Complex.
  Finally, to the Hillsiders, who host their annual picnic this 
weekend, thank you so much for continuing the tradition of the 
Hillsiders of Christiansted. I will be there to celebrate with you as 
we remember culture and family, united in pride and hope.

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