The 9th Annual Hoops for Heart
Basketball Game took place on Thursday, March 9, 2017 at Bishop George
Ahr High School. The game featured BGA faculty and alumni playing
against members of the BGA boys and girls basketball teams. Joining the
faculty team were 20 BGA alumni, including referees Mike Perullo ’80 and
Clem Bottone ‘86. The announcer for the game was former BGA Varsity
boys’ basketball coach Mr. Dennis O’Keefe and the scorekeeper was
Athletic Director Mr. Mike Wolfthal. Alumnus Mark Celis ’12 provided
official basketball music on his keyboard during the entire game.
The
game was a nail-biter down to the last seconds, with the score tied
with five seconds left on the clock. Varsity boys’ basketball coach Mr.
Darius Griffin made the game-winning foul shot, helping bring the
faculty/alumni to a victory over the students with a score of 54-53.
Of
course, the true purpose of the game was to raise funds for the great
work that the American Heart Association does in fighting heart disease.
The event raised $5,700 for the American Heart Association of New
Jersey.
Helping put together this event were
CSAC Hoops 4 Heart chairpersons Noah Caruso ’17, Stephanie Corea ’17,
and Julianne Kirbos ‘17. Members of the CSAC Hoops 4 Heart committee and
Sister Cynthia Marie Babyak worked diligently on making this charity
basketball game an overwhelming success.
Half-time
proved to be just as exciting as the game with 55 people taking the
half-court shot challenge. Amazingly, three of those taking the
challenge made the half-court shot: faculty member Mark Fiore ‘95,
Deontae Crawford ’18, and Jeremy Santos ’05.
A
great time was had by all the players and spectators! Thank you to the
faculty, alumni, parents, and BGA students who played and worked the
event! And thank you to all who came out and supported this great cause.