Local elected officials often spar verbally, but what happens when they converge on the basketball court? You can find out next weekend at a hoops event benefiting the Greater Richmond Interfaith Program Family Shelter and the Richmond Police Activities League.

A large number of officials have agreed to participate in the benefit from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Richmond PAL gymnasium, 2200 Macdonald Ave.

Find out whether county Supervisor John Gioia's passion for running transfers to the hardwood. See if Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner and Assemblyman Sandre Swanson can apply their leadership skills in a game. You may even get to watch Richmond council members Jim Rogers, Tom Butt, Maria Viramontes and Jeff Ritterman try their skills in the three-point shootout.

All have agreed to participate, as have Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin, San Pablo Mayor Leonard McNeil, San Pablo Councilman Paul Morris, AC Transit board member Joel Young, West Contra Costa Unified School District Associate Superintendent Wendell Greer, school board member Tony Thurmond, former school board member Glen Price, Emeryville school board member Miguel Dwin, Contra Costa College President McKinley Williams and John F. Kennedy High School Principal Roxanne Brown-Garcia.

"We'll have Team GRIP and Team PAL, and they'll defend their baskets," said Thurmond, who came up with the idea for the event. "I wanted to do something

The officials will be playing alongside local youths.

"The idea is to try and get as many people out there for a time as possible and just have fun," Thurmond said.

At the same time, "It's funny how the competitive spirit comes out," he said. "I keep reminding them the idea is to have fun."

The benefit is open to all; there will be food, music, prizes and more. All who attend are asked to bring a nonperishable food item or a new, unwrapped toy for a child of any age. Tax-deductible donations for GRIP and RPAL also are appreciated.

For more details or to become a sponsor, call 510-593-5513 or e-mail nrapp11@hotmail.com

WEST COUNTY NOTES: The El Cerrito Police Department took first place in its size category in the annual California Law Enforcement Challenge, a competition between law enforcement agencies of similar sizes and types. This is the second straight year El Cerrito claimed the top spot for departments with 26 to 50 sworn officers. It won a special award for addressing commercial vehicle safety and regulation enforcement.

The challenge "recognizes and rewards the best overall traffic safety programs," with a focus on "occupant protection, impaired driving, and speeding" enforcement and education.