By Rob Potter
GRAHAMSVILLE — March 16, 2004 – While scores of basketball fans around the nation will be transfixed by the NCAA men’s basketball tournament for the next three weeks, basketball fans in the Grahamsville area enjoyed a great hoops fundraiser doubleheader on Friday night.
In the first game of the evening, several sixth-graders from the school district’s Bear Cub basketball program competed in the annual “moving-up game.” Then the T-V Alumni team faced the T-V Faculty squad.
All of the evening’s proceeds will benefit the Amy Paes Memorial Scholarship Fund. Organizers noted that a total of $1,110 was raised for the fund.
Sadly, Paes passed away last summer after a battle with cancer. During the 2002-2003 school year, Paes was a fifth-grade student and a member of the one of the Bear Cub teams. (The Bear Cub program includes youngsters from second grade through sixth grade.)
Her classmates, who are now sixth-graders, will graduate in 2010. Organizers said they hope to award a scholarship in Amy Paes’ memory to at least one senior during that commencement ceremony six years from now.
In the moving up game, the East team, coached by Bob Ackerley, met the West team. Mike McNamara coached the West team and Brittany McNamara served as the assistant coach.
After the West took an 8-7 lead in the first quarter, the East rallied to knot the score at 14-14 at halftime.
The West held an 18-17 advantage at the end of three quarters and held on to register a close 24-21 win.
Following the contest, the friends and classmates quickly lined up for the traditional postgame handshake.
Members of the East team were: Logan Ackerley, Ross Bonnell, Allison Bowers, Jessie Brown, Kayla Kerns, Tenyat Khan, Heather Knox, Amanda Martin, Jamie Matero, Karyn Sheeley, Greg Vogler and Dean Winters.
The members of the West squad included: Bobby Beale, Matt Bogard, Casey Hadden, Lauren James, Crystal McKay, Kelly McNamara, Brendan Moore, Skylar Musa, Amanda Noren, Erik Raymond, J. T. Ruhlin and Kathryn Schyner.
In the alumni vs. faculty clash, the faculty team opened up a big lead in the second half and went on to record an 86-66 victory. After holding a 30-27 lead at the half, the faculty outscored the alumni 30-19 in the third period.
Despite a determined effort in the final quarter, the alumni squad just could not get any closer.
Keying the faculty team’s win were John Tenbus and Craig TerBush, each of whom hit at least two shots from beyond the three-point arc.
In addition to Tenbus (1998) and TerBush (1983), the faculty team included Greg Botsford (1993), Karlton Duck (1979), Art Felder (1999), Brent Lawrence (1967), Scott Mickelson (1974), Dave Moore (1973), John Rusin (1995), Jason Semo (1994), Art Soule (1965), Jerry Stevens (1983), Brian Tingley (1983) and Kyle Walter (1987).
(The years following the players names denotes when they graduated from high school – whether it was from T-V or another school.)
Members of the alumni team were: Michael Botsford (1984), Kevin Carroll (1982), Gary Bradley (1997), Nial Edwards (1987), Bill Gorman (2001), John Hamilton (1984), Bryan Myer (2002), Jesse Noren (1988), James Paul (2001), Durk Pearston (2001), Corey Roberts (1997), Megan Sheeley (2001), Gene Smith (1992), Kevin Smith (2001) and Charlie Streimer (1990).
“It was challenging,” said George Dean, a member of the T-V Class of 1967 and coach of the alumni squad.
On a more serious note, Dean praised the members of his team – many of whom graduated in the past 10 years – for participating in the game.
“It’s always great to see these kids come back and play in this game,” he commented. “It’s a great benefit for the community.”
“This is all for fun,” added Jerry Stevens, who coached the faculty team. “It’s all for a good cause.”
Stevens noted that several volunteers helped to keep the Bear Cub program going this winter. They included Faith Dymond, Janet Dymond, Cindy Mickelson and Scott Mickelson.
Several other volunteers helped during Friday night’s games. They included Ryan Ansbro, Zac Bright, Kevin Drown, Sean Drown, Devin Kaminski, Amanda Krom and Charlie Tyler.