By: Justin Boone
jboone@ticats.ca
Is there a Hamilton high school that can stop the Cops and Cats charity basketball team?
In the second leg of their 2008 season, the Cops and Cats cruised to three more victories over Hillfield Strathallan College, Bishop Tonnos High School, and Sir Winston Churchill High School. After falling one win short of perfection last season, the team is hoping to achieve that goal, and looks like they’ve rounded into form as they passed the mid-point of their schedule.
In what was arguably their most highlighted game of the year, the Cops and Cats took the court at Hillfield Strathallan College, in front of a packed house that featured grade school and high school students, as well as parents. Ticats in-stadium announcer Jason Farr was on the mic, reminding fans that the football season is quickly approaching, with his signature calls like “Setta and Forget-ta.”
The Ticats kicker/punter Nick Setta, showed why he’s the most athletic kicker in the business as he was all over the court, and a stingy defender on the students and teachers that made up the Hillfield Strathallan team.
Joining Setta was an all-star cast of Cats, including Casey Printers who was all about highlight reel plays, driving to the basket and making a few full court bullet passes, Jonta Woodard who was a force in the paint, veteran Cops and Cats team member Sandy Beveridge, and Tony Miles who was on fire from three point range.
The game marked the first time in Cops and Cats history that the team broke the century mark, with a 109-52 final.
This past week, the team laced their hightops up twice against Bishop Tonnos and Sir Winston Churchill, respectively.
Bishop Tonnos played well, led by their teacher Steve Maga, who was the CIS Player of the Year in 2001 while playing at McMaster. Maga’s sharpshooting wasn’t enough, and the Cats pushed their record to 6-0, with a 64-46 victory. The game also featured several monster blocks thanks to some of the taller police officers on the squad.
The Cops and Cats struggled early against Sir Winston Churchill in what was a scrappy game from the start. The school team wasn’t afraid to foul in paint, and made the Cops and Cats earn their points from the free throw line. The result was a low scoring contest 41-32, in favour of the Cops and Cats. Although the game itself had less baskets, the atmosphere in the gym was entertaining, as a live band was rocking out pre-game, post-game and at halftime. Ticats receiver Tony Miles tested out his singing voice with them and picked up the drumsticks for a bit as well.
With a record of 7-0, the Cops and Cats looked poised to continue their push for an undefeated season, and they are currently on pace to raise the most money ever in a single season for McMaster children’s hospital.
