Cancer patient and Owasso Firefighter Barry Ingram gets an entire basketball tournament of support

OWASSO, Okla. - The winning team at "Hoopin for Heroes" an Owasso Basketball Tournament walked away Saturday afternoon with $200, but the true winner is a man you won't find on the court.

Walking into Owasso's Mid-High Gym, it's the semi- finals at a basketball tournament.

"We haven't actually played together in four or five years," said Kyle Griffiths.

Griffiths and his other teammates are coming out of retirement after playing at Oklahoma Baptist University.

Teammate Bailey Jones said, "My knees are a little soar. I'll definitely have to ice them tonight."

The players are raising money for a man they don't even know.

"When I heard what the cause was for I thought it would be a good opportunity to support someone who needed help," said Griffiths.

That support is for Barry Ingram who's cheering them on in the stands.

"I would love to believe that I was as good as person to show up and do this for someone I don't even know," said Ingram.

Barry is watching on the sidelines since he can't be out on the court. Doctors removed all of the lymph nodes in his left arm trying to get his stage 3B melanoma in remission.

Then just last week Barry was back at work. But to make sure he stays cancer free and can raise his two kids, Barry's taking treatment a step further and right now undergoing chemotherapy.

"I don't know if anybody would ever do this except for the love of their family," said Ingram.

That family includes his co-workers, like Lucas Shearer. The two met in training six years ago. They're now both Owasso firefighters..

"He always makes you smile and feel good about what you're doing," Shearer said.

Lucas said he understands this could be him at some point. He too has cancer but right now doesn't need treatment. So he's focusing on the friend he says thinks less about himself and more about others.

"If he starts running out of time, vacation, sick time, we'll all pull together and work for him. We'll do whatever to make sure he keeps his job," said Shearer.

Those players raised more than $1,000 for Barry. That pays for his medication, doctor bills, and traveling to treatment.