The Cops and Cats charity basketball team is off and running once again.
Four games into their quest for an undefeated 2008 season, they are preparing for one of the biggest games of the year against Hillfield Strathallan College. The game, which will be covered by CH TV’s News at Noon, will feature Casey Printers, Nick Setta, Ray Mariuz, Sandy Beveridge, and newcomer to the team, Tony Miles.
Miles, who is expected to help improve the Ticats receiving corps, has also been a welcome addition to the Cops and Cats team this year.
“We’ve got big guys and we have rebounders, but we’ve lacked a strong quick backcourt. Tony Miles brings the whole package. It’s just wonderful having him onboard. He really opens it up in the key for the big guys, because they have to play him,” said officer Barry Munger, one of the organizers and a veteran of the squad.
“The Cats have been giving us great athletes this year, guys that have really complimented the police in areas where we are weak,” he added.
In the first game of the season, the team faced Sir John A MacDonald High School, and Tony Miles made his debut in a Black and Gold basketball uniform. Although the school team was undersized, they were very talented and kept the game close right up until the end with a rusty Cops and Cats group prevailing 81-78.
Game Two brought the team to Saltfleet High School, and saw young Canadians Chris Bauman and Sandy Beveridge take the court. The pair helped the team cruise to a 66-39 win.
6-foot-4, 310-pound Jonta Woodard joined the team for the third game at Highland Secondary School. Prior to the season, he joked about bringing a Charles Barkley-type skill set to the team, and he certainly didn’t disappoint, leading to their most lopsided win of the year, 75-38, in a game reminiscent of a rugby match.
Orchard Park High School played host to last week’s game. With an enthusiastic crowd cheering on their school team, the Cops and Cats almost lost their shot at an undefeated season, barely edging out a 56-53 victory. It took everything they had including two clutch free throws from Tony Miles to seal the win and move the team to 4-0.
Last season, the team had their dreams of perfection destroyed by St. Mary’s High School, who will host the final game of this season.
“They shot the lights out,” admitted Munger. “They played great and were killing the three, and they just finished us off last year, so we’ll see what happens this year.”
While the games are the highlight of the afternoon, there are several
The team isn’t making the mistake of looking ahead in the schedule, as their game Friday remains their focus.
“We’ve got a really big game this week against Hillfield Stathallan,” said Munger. “Every year this program has gotten bigger and bigger. Last year we made almost $17,000 and honestly my prediction for this year is that we’re going to go over $20,000, maybe even $25,000.”
The game tips off Friday, March 28 at 12:00 p.m. and as previously mentioned, will be covered by CH TV’s News at Noon.
“It’s good publicity for the school and the Cops and Cats program, and it’s great for the Children’s Hospital, because that’s what this is really all about raising money for McMaster Children’s Hospital.”
