FAST FACTS
• WHO: East Union vs. Ripon
• WHAT: Girls basketball game.
• WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 18
• TIPOFF: 4 p.m.
• WHERE: Dalben Center
The East Union and Ripon High girls’ basketball teams will battle for more than just a non-league victory when they square off for the fifth straight year next Saturday at Dalben Center.
Together, they are battling for a common and noble cause.
What started as a friendly rivalry game between schools from neighboring communities has become an event, as volunteers are preparing for the first installment of the Hoops for the Cure Classic.
The annual contest, in which East Union and Ripon players will wear pink and white reversible jerseys, will now serve as a tool to help breast cancer patients and their families.
A portion of the money earned through gate and snack-bar sales, business sponsorships, raffles and a silent auction will be donated to the local chapter of Triple Step for a Cure, an organization dedicated to educating and helping women and their families stricken by triple negative breast cancer.
The funds will be earmarked and used to assist local breast cancer patients in need.
The game tips off at 4 p.m.
Ceres High girls basketball players started their own tradition of playing in pink once a year in 2009 as part of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s “Pink Zone” initiative that has raised over $3 million for breast cancer awareness and research since its inception four years ago.
Leslie is now cancer-free, but the Agostinis aren’t ready to completely leave the experience behind.
“We’ve had some people here in Manteca do some tremendous things for me and my family,” he said. “We were on the receiving end of that kindness, so then it became, ‘What can we do to help?’”
Coming up with the idea was the easy part.
“I really didn’t know what I was getting into,” Agostini said.
It was obvious to him that he could not attack this project alone. He needed another coach and school to commit to this game on an annual basis.
The first person to come to mind was George Contente, Ripon’s varsity head coach.
“When I presented it to George he said they would love to be a part of it — not only are they a part of it, but really commit to it,” Agostini said. “It just made so much sense: We play them every year, the two communities are close to each other and a lot of people from both communities know each other.”
“It was just a matter of when and where,” Contente said.
“Where” was an issue quickly resolved. Teams typically alternate home sites, and this year was supposed to be Ripon’s turn to host.
“Since this was our first year doing this, I really wanted to have it at our place,” Agostini said. “George being typical George, he had no problem with switching sites.”
A unified committee consisting of volunteers from both schools is doing the heavy lifting.
Committee members include: Joe Pellegrino, Jim McGuiness, Rich Posz, Susan Swift, Belinda Kachalkin, Pam Wright, Malissa Puahi, Tammy Feddersen and Cary Posz.
“We’ve been fortunate to have some great people from both sides on the committee,” Contente said. “Ripon is a very generous community with people more than willing to do their part, as is Manteca.”
The result of their hard work is a unique event involving unique people eager to help.
Little trinkets, such as pink basketballs and bracelets, will be available to purchase, though a few lucky spectators will get them for free before the game when players toss the items into the crowd.
Raffle tickets will be sold and a silent auction will be conducted during the game. Among the auctioned items are Stockton Ports tickets and memorabilia donated by former East Union basketball star Scott Brooks, the head coach of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder.
East Union’s girls basketball program is no stranger to lending a helping hand.
In November, the Lancers continued the annual Thanksgiving tradition, started by Interbitzin 11 years ago, of adopting a needy family and preparing a holiday feast comprising of donated food for it to enjoy.
Agostini said such involvements in charity serve another purpose.
“It’s an experience for these kids, a real eye-opener,” Agostini said. “We’re just glad we can share this with Ripon High. It’s going to be a great night.”
And no matter the outcome, nobody loses.
Together, they are battling for a common and noble cause.
What started as a friendly rivalry game between schools from neighboring communities has become an event, as volunteers are preparing for the first installment of the Hoops for the Cure Classic.
The annual contest, in which East Union and Ripon players will wear pink and white reversible jerseys, will now serve as a tool to help breast cancer patients and their families.
A portion of the money earned through gate and snack-bar sales, business sponsorships, raffles and a silent auction will be donated to the local chapter of Triple Step for a Cure, an organization dedicated to educating and helping women and their families stricken by triple negative breast cancer.
The funds will be earmarked and used to assist local breast cancer patients in need.
The game tips off at 4 p.m.
Ceres High girls basketball players started their own tradition of playing in pink once a year in 2009 as part of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s “Pink Zone” initiative that has raised over $3 million for breast cancer awareness and research since its inception four years ago.
Agostini’s wife diagnosed with breast cancer
East Union head coach Jim Agostini aims to spread the generosity shown to his family after his wife, Leslie, was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer on Oct. 30, 2009. Triple negative breast cancer is a rare form of the ailment that does not react as well to standard treatment.Leslie is now cancer-free, but the Agostinis aren’t ready to completely leave the experience behind.
“We’ve had some people here in Manteca do some tremendous things for me and my family,” he said. “We were on the receiving end of that kindness, so then it became, ‘What can we do to help?’”
Coming up with the idea was the easy part.
“I really didn’t know what I was getting into,” Agostini said.
It was obvious to him that he could not attack this project alone. He needed another coach and school to commit to this game on an annual basis.
The first person to come to mind was George Contente, Ripon’s varsity head coach.
“When I presented it to George he said they would love to be a part of it — not only are they a part of it, but really commit to it,” Agostini said. “It just made so much sense: We play them every year, the two communities are close to each other and a lot of people from both communities know each other.”
Both coaches grads of EU
Agostini and Contente are graduates of East Union — 1979 and 1983, respectively — and served as assistants under former girls basketball coach Rick Inderbitzin in the early 2000s. All three have been close friends for decades, so Contente jumped at the opportunity to join the cause.“It was just a matter of when and where,” Contente said.
“Where” was an issue quickly resolved. Teams typically alternate home sites, and this year was supposed to be Ripon’s turn to host.
“Since this was our first year doing this, I really wanted to have it at our place,” Agostini said. “George being typical George, he had no problem with switching sites.”
A unified committee consisting of volunteers from both schools is doing the heavy lifting.
Committee members include: Joe Pellegrino, Jim McGuiness, Rich Posz, Susan Swift, Belinda Kachalkin, Pam Wright, Malissa Puahi, Tammy Feddersen and Cary Posz.
“We’ve been fortunate to have some great people from both sides on the committee,” Contente said. “Ripon is a very generous community with people more than willing to do their part, as is Manteca.”
The result of their hard work is a unique event involving unique people eager to help.
Little trinkets, such as pink basketballs and bracelets, will be available to purchase, though a few lucky spectators will get them for free before the game when players toss the items into the crowd.
Raffle tickets will be sold and a silent auction will be conducted during the game. Among the auctioned items are Stockton Ports tickets and memorabilia donated by former East Union basketball star Scott Brooks, the head coach of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder.
East Union’s girls basketball program is no stranger to lending a helping hand.
In November, the Lancers continued the annual Thanksgiving tradition, started by Interbitzin 11 years ago, of adopting a needy family and preparing a holiday feast comprising of donated food for it to enjoy.
Agostini said such involvements in charity serve another purpose.
“It’s an experience for these kids, a real eye-opener,” Agostini said. “We’re just glad we can share this with Ripon High. It’s going to be a great night.”
And no matter the outcome, nobody loses.
