Photo by Becky Polaski Clockwise from left, Johnsonburg Area High School Athletic Director Matt Watler, Ridgway Area High School Athletic Director Sandi Hanes, St. Marys Area High School Athletic Director Terry Straub, and Elk County Catholic High School Athletic Director Aaron Straub met Wednesday afternoon to discuss plans for this year’s varsity basketball Holiday Tournament.

By Becky Polaski

Staff Writer

 For the past several years, the varsity basketball coaches at all four high schools in Elk County have supported the Coaches vs. Cancer program during the annual varsity basketball Holiday Tournament. 

The schools’ participation in the program is due largely to the efforts of former St. Marys Area High School boys varsity basketball coach Bryce Benson.

While the coaches have always made a donation to the program in the past, this year an effort is being made to expand the program and reach more people. The athletic directors from all four high schools met last Wednesday afternoon to discuss allowing a table to be set up at the event where attendees can make a donation and fill out a Coaches vs. Cancer cutout in memory of someone.

The table will be located in the lobby outside of gym at St. Marys Area High School during all of Tuesday’s games. The coaching staff from each team will also make a donation, as has been done in the past.

Ridgway Area High School Athletic Director Sandi Hanes said the Coaches vs. Cancer program benefits a good cause that also hits close to home for many people.

“Speaking for some of our teachers and some of our staff, we’ve had many people affected by cancer in our school system,” Hanes said.

Johnsonburg Area High School Athletic Director Matt Walter agreed with Hanes in that the fight against cancer is easy to support because the disease impacts so many people. He also noted that Johnsonburg, as well as the other schools in the county, have all had events in the past related to cancer awareness.

Elk County Catholic High School Athletic Director Aaron Straub explained he is supportive of the program because some of the parents and other family members of team members have been affected by cancer.

“Bryce got it started four years ago and it is good to carry that on,” Straub added.

St. Marys Area High School Athletic Director Terry Straub echoed the sentiments of his fellow athletic directors. St. Marys Area has also held programs and events in the past in support of cancer awareness.

The Holiday Tournament will get underway on Tuesday at 3 p.m. with the Elk County Catholic High School varsity girls basketball team facing off against Ridgway. At 4:30 p.m. the St. Marys Area High School varsity girls basketball team will take on Johnsonburg. The 6:30 p.m. game will pit the Johnsonburg varsity boys team against Ridgway and then the Elk County Catholic varsity boys will face St. Marys in the final game of the night.

The action will resume on Wednesday at 3 p.m. with the girls consolation game followed by the boys consolation game at 4:30 p.m. The girls championship game will be played at 6:30 p.m. and the boys championship game is scheduled for 8 p.m.

Coaches vs. Cancer is a national program that is a collaborative effort between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Since 1993 the program has raised more than $50 million to support the fight against cancer.