Friendly rivalry game will benefit Coaches vs. Cancer

When Mt. Spokane High School student leaders wanted to raise money for the tsunami relief fund three years ago, they turned to Assistant Principal Jim Preston for help.

Preston, a former basketball coach, proposed a basketball game pitting the faculty of Mt. Spokane and Mead Middle School against the faculty of Mead High School and Northwood Middle School.

That first Hoops for Hope game proved to be such a success, and the schools decided to make it an annual event. “All schools have rivalries,” Preston said. “What’s unique about Hoops for Hope is that the game incorporates middle schools as well.”

This year as well as the previous year, all funds raised will go to Coaches vs. Cancer, a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball coaches.

“We’re grateful that Mead and Mt. Spokane are stepping up to the plate to help the cause,” regional coordinator Jerid Keefer said.

Businesses in the community are lending their support as well. Action Sportswear and Printables will donate uniforms to the faculty teams, and the Inland Empire Basketball Officials Association will provide officials for the game.

Other businesses are donating items for a halftime raffle. Avista Corp. is donating Gonzaga basketball tickets, Village Centre Cinemas will offer movie tickets, Zip Trip will donate gas cards, and several restaurants, including Commellini’s and Twigs, will donate gift cards.

The Mt. Spokane-Mead team has won the last two years.

Though the rivalry can be fierce, the knowledge that they’re playing for such a worthy cause is never far from the competitors’ minds.

“We’ve all been impacted by cancer,” said Preston. “I lost my mom to cancer, and we’ve lost several teachers in the district to this disease.”

Mead High School Assistant Principal Ken Russell agreed. “It’s about our schools coming together to make a difference,” he said. “It’s a community thing.”