As 11-year-old Tristin Cebery of Lac du Flambeau recovers from emergency brain surgery, the Northwoods community is preparing to rally around his family in an unexpected place — the basketball court.
The fifth annual Books vs. Badges Charity Basketball Game, set for Friday, April 10, at the Northland Pines Field House in Eagle River, will bring together local educators (“Books”) and law enforcement officers (“Badges”) for a friendly competition, with proceeds supporting the Cebery family on behalf of the Vilas County Deputy Sheriff's Union Local 118.
The event began in 2022 as a way for the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office to support a family connected to the department after they lost their 10-year-old daughter, Berklee, to terminal cancer.
“As conversations grew within the sheriff’s office, Deputy Rob Dumovich came up with the idea of Books vs. Badges to raise funds to support the family,” said Deputy Trevor Tipp.
The game has since grown into a major community fundraiser, with a different beneficiary selected each year and participants expanding to include educators and law enforcement officials from surrounding communities, including deputies, police officers, dispatchers and correctional officers.
Beyond shooting hoops, the evening is “more than just a basketball game,” Tipp said. “We always have a great atmosphere. We want our attendees to simply enjoy the time together as a community.”
Alongside the on-court action, the event will feature a 50/50 raffle, raffle baskets and door prizes with items donated by local businesses, as well as contests for spectators between periods. Attendees are encouraged to wear previous Books vs. Badges shirts to receive an extra door prize entry.
This year’s beneficiary, Tristin, was identified by the sheriff’s office following an ambulance call. On Jan. 26, he suffered an undiagnosed brain bleed that required emergency surgery, followed by an extended period in which he was unresponsive and required both a breathing and feeding tube.
According to Tipp, Tristin is now able to speak, though that ability varies depending on his seizure medications, and he has limited mobility. He had been undergoing physical therapy until doctors discovered kidney stones.
As of press time, he had been hospitalized in Marshfield for more than 60 days — including 39 in the pediatric ICU — and was expected to be transferred to Milwaukee for continued care.
His parents, Sheri and David, own Sheri’s Pub N Grub in Minocqua. They have remained by Tristin’s side, with David traveling home about four days a week to maintain the pub and their home, while Sheri returns when she can.
“Having to run a business while their child was in the hospital put an unexpected hardship on the family,” Tipp said. “We felt that this was an opportunity where we, as a community, could make a meaningful impact and rally support behind them.”
Though the Cebery family’s situation has been difficult, Tipp said he hopes people walk away from the Books vs. Badges game feeling connected and proud of what the community can accomplish together.
“At the end of the day, it’s not just about the game — it’s about coming together to support one another and make a real difference in someone’s life,” he said. “We want to bring our community together and show that the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office is true to our oath of serving the community and maintaining the welfare of our citizens.”
The fifth annual Books vs. Badges Charity Basketball Game is scheduled for Friday, April 10, at the Northland Pines Field House, 1800 Pleasure Island Road in Eagle River. Doors open at 6 p.m., with tipoff at 7 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults; students are free.
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