The ceremonial tip-off was performed by Ron Mitchell, hospital board chairman, to Billie McLeod of Cedarville (left) and Amanda Coveyou of St. Ignace. Pink was the new gold for the St. Ignace Saints and the new green for the Cedarville Trojans, as the two girls basketball teams dressed in newly fashioned uniforms for one game, raising $10,000 in donations at LaSalle High School in St. Ignace Monday, February 9.

The "Hooping for a Cure" game raised the money for the oncology department at the new Mackinac Straits Hospital in St. Ignace. It was both a basketball game and a large community show of support in the high school gymnasium.

A standing-room only crowd, most of them clad in pink, filled the gymnasium, the largest crowd a girls basketball game in St. Ignace has had since a 2000 regular season game against Farmington Hills Harrison. Having two of the top teams in the Upper Peninsula coupled with a worthy fundraising goal made for a successful night.

The idea for such a fundraiser came from sisters Kathy Marshall and Karen Fowler, both of St. Ignace, who attended a Pink Arrow benefit football game at Lowell High School in the fall 2008. They approached St. Ignace Saints Coach Dorene Ingalls to help put together a similar fundraiser with her basketball team.

With most dressed in pink, the large crowd for the girls' basketball game between the Saints and Trojans Monday, February 9, enjoyed a rendition of the song "YMCA" just before opening tip-off. Each team wore special basketball jerseys that were used exclusively for that game, along with a pink ball.

"It was awesome to see the gymnasium filled to capacity and wearing pink. It brought tears to my eyes," said Coach Ingalls.

"We are truly pleased with the effort by everyone who made this a great benefit. I believe that every person in attendance has a family member or friend that has been affected with cancer," said Mrs. Marshall.

The money raised came from the 57 jerseys and 40 slam dunk sponsors in memory and honor of loved ones affected by cancer, the sale of "Hooping for a Cure" T-shirts, 40 items donated for the raffle, the St. Ignace Kiwanis Club tail-gate picnic, and the St. Ignace girls basketball program 50/50 raffle and concession funds. The players' jerseys bore the name of many community families, as people took the opportunity to honor and memorialize loved ones by sponsoring the shirts. The program listed all those honored through sponsorships at the game.

The St. Ignace Dance Troupe, (from left) Stephanie Damron, Rachel Therrian, Emilee Therrian, Christi Therrian, Kristen Olsen, Shelby Peters, Samantha Radecki, Lauren Winkelman, and Emily Sposito, performs in front of the large crowd at LaSalle High School Monday, February 9. The special evening began with the introduction of St. Ignace and Cedarville varsity and junior varsity players and cheerleaders and their sponsors.

Rod Nelson, CEO of Mackinac Straits Hospital, welcomed the crowd and thanked everyone for coming.

"I am extremely pleased and thankful for the support and hard work by everyone for making this first 'Hooping For A Cure' such a huge success," said Mr. Nelson.

At right: Hope Wittmus (31) scores an inside basket for the Cedarville Trojans. Dr. Ed Smith, head of the oncology department at Mackinac Straits Hospital, addressed the crowd about cancer and the effect it has on patients, families, and friends. Dr. Smith quoted the late Jim Valvano, former head basketball coach at North Carolina State University, who died of cancer.

"Coach Valvano said "don't give up, don't ever give up,'" said Dr. Smith. "'Cancer can take away all my physical ability, it cannot touch my mind, it cannot touch my heart, and it cannot touch my soul. Those three things are going to carry on forever.'"

Kathy (nee Spencer) Campbell of Haslett, sister of St. Ignace Athletic Director Marty Spencer, also spoke about her personal battle with cancer and accepting help from family and friends.

The ceremonial opening tip, by Ron Mitchell, chairman of the Mackinac Straits Hospital Board, to Amanda Coveyou of the Saints and Billie McLeod of the Trojans, completed the pre-game festivities before the starting line-ups were introduced and the game began.

Samantha Radecki (20) scored two of her 12 points in the second half of the Saints win over the Trojans. Trojans Suffer First Loss of

Season to Saints

In the battle between two of the top teams in the Upper Peninsula, St. Ignace, a Class C team, and Cedarville, a Class D team, the Saints handed the Trojans their first defeat, beating them 70-51 at home Monday, February 9.

It was a non-conference game; the Saints are of the Straits Area Conference and the Trojans from the Eastern Upper Peninsula Conference.

"I was pleased with our effort by everyone," said Coach Ingalls. "Samantha Radecki and Kristen Olsen played outstanding defense. It took the play of all nine girls to make this win possible."

Cedarville opened the game with a 14-13 scoring edge after the first eight minutes as Jessica Duncan scored six for the Trojans during the scoring run. Samantha Radecki answered with seven for the Saints.

Ashley Sweeney scored for Cedarville at the 6:32 mark to give the Trojans their last lead of the game. Chelsea Swope made two free throws and Nicole Elmblad drained a triple to give the Saints a 20-16 lead with 5:20 left in the first half. St. Ignace never looked back.

Jillian Collins (32) drives to the hoop with the help of teammate Karley Smith (2). St. Ignace continued its scoring run in the second quarter, ending with a 15-0 run, with Elmblad scoring nine points. Sweeney scored the final five points of the half for Cedarville to cut the St. Ignace lead to 30-22 at halftime.

Amanda Coveyou, who sat on the bench most of the second quarter with two early fouls, scored eight points in the third quarter, as the Saints built their lead to 48-36.

The Saints went on to outscore the Trojans 22-15 in the final eight minutes.

St. Ignace recorded 23 field goals, two triples, and shot 22-of- 35 (63%) from the free throw line.

Cedarville made 17 field goals, one triple, and went 16-of-32 (50%) from the free throw line.

Saints statistics: Nicole Elmblad, 18 points, nine rebounds, five assists; Chelsea Swope, 14 points; Samantha Radecki, 12 points; Marcie Rickley, nine points, 12 rebounds; Amanda Coveyou, eight points, five rebounds; Mallory LaLonde, six points; Grace Wheeler, three points, five rebounds.

Rod Nelson, CEO of Mackinac Straits Hospital, welcomes the crowd to the 'Hooping for a Cure' game. (Photograph courtesy of LaSalle Yearbook) Trojans statistics: Jessica Duncan, 14 points; Ashley Sweeney, 13 points; Billie Mc- Leod, nine points; Hope Wittmus, five points; Jillian Collins, four points; Karley Smith, Brittney Kelley, Kacie Simpson, two points.

Dr. Ed Smith, head of the oncology department at Mackinac Straits Hospital, speaks to the crowd about cancer and the effect it has on patients and families. Kara Fitzpatrick, a Saints cheerleader, wore a jersey in memory of Roberta (nee Cronan) Lilliquist. Also pictured is the late Mrs. Lilliquist's sister, Kathy (nee Cronan) Feher. Kathy Campbell talks about her personal experience with cancer. Billie McLeod of Cedarville, with her father, Greg McLeod, was playing in memory of her mother, Kellee McLeod.