For the past seven years, the Lake Kennedy Clippers basketball team has been hitting the courts of South Hampton Roads in the colors of black and gold. When not playing home games at Booker T. Washington Recreation Center, the team often travels to nearby cities such as Hampton, where they’ll take part in the Fourth Annual Holiday Basketball Tournament at the Hampton Roads Boys and Girls Club on Saturday.

However, the Clippers team that takes the Hampton court will be different from the ones that Suffolkians are used to seeing. Earlier this week, they were gifted by the city of Suffolk and the Parks and Recreation Department with red, white, and blue uniforms.

&uot;We have needed these new uniforms for a long time,&uot; said Clipper coach Mike White, whose team carries a 5-4 record into Saturday’s game. &uot;Suffolk did a lot to help this team.&uot;

After trying on the new get-up, forward Marcel Woodson was ready to drive the paint. &uot;Hopefully, we’ll play better with the new outfits,&uot; said Woodson, a student at Lakeland High School. &uot;The better we play, the better we’ll feel about wearing them.&uot;