Lincoln Honored at Officials' Banquet

PITTSFIELD, Mass – The Berkshire County Board of High School Basketball Officials (IAABO Board #25) held their annual Sportsmanship Awards Banquet at Berkshire Hills Country Club on Sunday night. 

 

The award winners are chosen from a pool of candidates provided by the county coaches, who each submit a player for consideration in the Sportsmanship Award category. Among the winners this year was Drury senior guard Cassie Lincoln, who brought home the prestigious Oswald Tower Scholarship. 

 

Oswald Tower was a native of North Adams, who served on the National Basketball Rules Committee from 1910-1960 and was an editor of the Official Basketball Guide and an official rules interpreter from 1915 to 1960. Tower was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor in 1959. 

 

The Oswald Tower Scholarship is an application given to a senior basketball player from Berkshire County and is based on academic achievement, community service and leadership on the basketball floor. The board received close to 30 applications this year and determined Lincoln to be the winner based on those criteria in addition to the essay she submitted in her application. 

 

Lincoln is a two-year captain, a three-year starter and a four-year member of the Drury girls’ basketball program. This year, the scrappy senior was second on the team in both scoring and assists and played a big role in the Blue Devils going 14-8 and advancing to the Division 2 Western Mass. quarterfinals. In her final game of her career, Lincoln led Drury with a season-high 16 points in a 59-49 loss to county rival Wahconah. 

 

Other sportsmanship winners from Sunday night included: 

 

Pat Bruni Award given to the North Division boys’ winner: John Lavinio of Wahconah

 

Boog Powell Award given to the North Division girls’ winner: Tara Dooley of Lee

 

Ray Dotchin Award given to the South Division boys’ winner: Kevin Carpenter of Lenox

 

South Division girls’ winner: Sam Robinson of Hoosac Valley

 

Coach’s Sportsmanship Award: Ed Ladley of Wahconah