The Westmoreland Girls Basketball Program was recognized by the Board of Education at its regular business meeting on March 3. The program, represented at the meeting by Girls Varsity Basketball Coach Jerrid Otis and several varsity players, was honored for its efforts off the hardwood.
For the fourth consecutive year, the Girls Basketball Program teamed up with the More Than a Game Foundation to hold a “Hoops for Hospital” benefit. The event, held at Westmoreland Jr./Sr. High School on January 25, featured benefit games between Westmoreland and rival, Oriskany. There was a Fifth and Sixth Grade, Modified, Junior Varsity and Varsity game.
A total of $17,130 was raised, far surpassing last year’s total of $10,500.
On January 31 before the start of the Westmoreland vs. Mount Markham Girls Varsity Basketball game at Westmoreland Jr./Sr. High School, the Girls Basketball Program presented this year’s proceeds to a representative from More Than a Game Foundation. The organization donated $13,500 to Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital in Syracuse and the remaining funds to Tiana Mangakahia, a player on the Syracuse University Women’s Basketball team and recent breast cancer survivor.
The More Than a Game Foundation is a Syracuse-based non-profit that teams up with local schools to organize “Hoops for Hospital” benefit games and tournaments in all sports to raise funds and awareness in the fight against cancer. All money raised stays local.
A plaque indicating how much the Girls Basketball Program has raised for the More Than a Game Foundation each year is proudly displayed in the trophy case outside the Westmoreland Jr./Sr. High School Gym.