Just one week after an exciting night playing on the professional Court at Barclays Center, the St. Stan’s, Ozone Park, eighth-grade Catholic Youth Organization was back on the floor playing for a good cause this past weekend.

St. Camillus’ Springman Hall, Rockaway Beach, was the site of a two-day Coaches vs. Cancer basketball tournament.

The tournament got off to an unusual start, when a transformer blew on Beach 100th Street causing a blackout at the start of the fourth quarter in a tie game between St. Francis de Sales, Belle Harbor, and St. Rose of Lima, Rockaway Beach.

Play resumed the following day, with St. Francis de Sales earning the victory to move into the championship game.

St. Stan’s opened play against Blessed Trinity, Breezy Point, and advanced to the championship round with a win.

The championship was a close contest the whole way. Just as St. Stan’s was able to take a 10-pt. lead, St. Francis responded by hitting four consecutive three-pointers to take a 48-45 lead with 20 seconds remaining.

As if “clutch” were his middle name, Michael Lynch drained a long three-pointer for St. Stan’s to tie up the game. In an exciting last play, St. Stan’s James Cooke got the rebound off a missed shot attempt and was fouled attempting the put back with 0.3 seconds left in regulation.

He missed the first free-throw attempt but was able to sink the second to give St. Stan’s the 1-pt. victory in dramatic fashion.

All the proceeds raised from the tournament will benefit the Jimmy V Foundation.

Congratulations to the the All Tournament Team:

Timmy Moran – Blessed Trinity
Anthony Markle – St. Rose
Jack Mallehy – St. Francis de Sales
Kevin Connolly – St. Francis de Sales
Sam Goderich – St. Stan’s
James Cooke – St. Stan’s

The tournament’s M.V.P. was Michael Lynch from St. Stan’s who scored a total of 33 pts. in the two games.

Coach Billy Hofmann would like to thank all the teams, coaches and referees that participated in the tournament and the volunteers who helped at the concession stand and front door. Also  Jamesy Tubridy from DJs @ Work Entertainment Co. for his services and Chris Dalton from Dalton’s Seaside Grill for his hospitality.