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WEST POINT LAKE — A low lake level hampered participation in Saturday’s second annual Diana Renee Reaves Memorial Buddy Bass Tournament on West Point Lake. It did raise money for Diana’s favorite charity, Birmingham-based Neverthirst.

“Diana learned of the good work they were doing when she was undergoing cancer treatments,” father Randy Reaves told The Valley Times-News prior to Saturday’s 3 p.m. weigh-in at Southern Harbor Marina. “We have nine large portraits of Diana on display at the stage. They mean a lot to me. They are in gratitude from nine impoverished areas in Nepal, Cambodia and India where wells have been installed in her name. Each one of the well pumps that are working in those remote parts of the world has a plaque on it with Diana’s name. I can’t tell you how much it means to be for her to be remembered that way. The water from those wells are helping to sustain life in hard-pressed areas of the world.”

Matt Latourneau, chief executive officer of Neverthirst, was present at Saturday’s event and thanked the crowd for being there and helping what Neverthirst is trying to do.

It’s estimated that more than 700 million people worldwide lack access to clean and safe drinking water. The founders of Neverthirst were inspired by the teachings of Pastor David Platt on the need for clean, safe water to drink. Their first project was to have a well in South Sudan. The organization has carried on this work to bring safe water to both Africa and Asia.

Taking home the first place award in this year’s tournament were the father and son team of Tony Philpott Sr. and Tony Philpot Jr. They reeled in a total of 15.72 pounds of bass. The two-man team of Michael Smith and Charlie Williams came in second and the buddy tandem of James and J.J. Pitts was third. James Scott won the big fish award. He caught one that weighed 5.3 pounds.

“We will be back here next year at this time for another memorial tournament for Neverthirst,” Reaves said. “Hopefully, West Point Lake will be at its normal water level for October. We are hoping to have a good crowd since it will be an anniversary year for West Point Lake. 2025 will be the lake’s 50th year.”

Reaves said he wants to get high school kids involved in the tournament. Several schools in the area have bass fishing teams. The Diana Renee Reaves Memorial Bass Fishing Tournament would be ideal for their participation.

“I’m also thinking about having a river tournament next year,” Reaves said. “It would be nice if we could base it at the Shawmut boat landing and have it on that section of the river.”

Diana Reaves was a graduate of Valley High and was Miss Vallerata her senior year. She was gifted at writing poetry and was an instructor at the University of Arkansas. She was just 35 years of age when she died of cancer in July 2022.