Coaches Vs. Cancer Event Tips Off Saturday at Hoosac Valley

CHESHIRE, Mass. -- The Hoosac Valley girls basketball team will host its third annual Coaches vs. Cancer event on Saturday, inviting four teams from Berkshire County and five squads from outside the county for five games that get under way at 1:30 p.m.

 

The event has raised more than $6,000 to benefit the American Cancer Society in its first two years and aims to go over the $10,000 mark on Saturday, according to Hoosac Valley coach Ron Wojcik.

 

The money comes from a combination of gate receipts, concessions and donations from the teams, who each chip in $250 for the cause.

 

To keep overhead down, the Print Shop Williamstown donates its time and materials for the event's programs. Parents from the Berkshire County squads rotate shifts on the concession stand.

 

The day's first game features Granby against Drury. Athol takes on Wahconah at about 3 p.m. Mahar plays Mount Greylock at 4:30. The host Hurricanes play Notre Dame-Hingham at 6. And Monument Mountain wraps things up against Hampshire at about 7:30.

 

Four of the Berkshire County participants competed in last winter's Western Massachusetts Division 3 tournament, including eventual champion Hoosac Valley. So did all four Pioneer Valley teams, including semi-finalist Athol and runner-up Granby.

 

Notre Dame Academy of Hingham was the No. 6 seed and advanced to the quarter-finals of last winter's South Division 2 tournament.

 

Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students.