Maplewood and Yolanda G. Barco Oncology Institute team up for cancer awareness
Nov. 11—GUYS MILLS — The Maplewood Tigers girls basketball program and the staff of the Yolanda G. Barco Oncology Institute teamed up on Friday for the 2nd Annual Lung Cancer Awareness Game at Maplewood High School.
"Teamed up" might not have been the best wording though, as the two sides battled it out in a surprisingly physical and chaotic low-stakes game. Team Black was comprised of staff members from Yolanda G. Barco and Team Gold was made up of both Maplewood high school and elementary players.
Team Gold, AKA Maplewood, won 38-34 after they took a late lead in the fourth quarter. The game itself was all sorts of chaos with referees and head coaches coming out on the court for celebrity shots. Buzzer-beater half court shots were made and glasses were knocked off heads.
But the game was, of course, secondary to the overall message of the event, Lung Cancer Awareness and honoring veterans for Veteran's Day.
"The turnout was incredible," said Alicia Sheatz, the main organizer of the event and a respiratory therapist at Yolanda G. Barco. "The atmosphere was crazy and wild. The kids did a great job and all of the oncology staff did great."
Sheatz started off by giving an introductory speech on the court to a crowded Woodshed.
Dr. Brian Karlovitz also came out and spoke before the game. He gave a basic rundown on the facts of Lung Cancer and also shared tips to help prevent it and catch it early, the most blatant one being to get tested if you have ever smoked.
"I shoot radiation better than I can shoot a basketball," was a part of his speech, verbatim.
The Maplewood cheerleaders were also in attendance, using the game to not only support the community but to also get warmed up for the approaching high school basketball and wrestling seasons.
After dual singer/players Anniston Passilla, Maleah Sheatz and Mollie Sheat,z sang the national anthem the game was underway and all heck broke lose.
Outside, there was a 50/50 raffle as well as raffle boxes that one Meadville Tribune sportswriter should have bid on for the Pittsburgh Penguins tickets.
All of the proceeds of the event went to to both the Yolanda G. Barco Oncology Institute and the Maplewood Tigers girls basketball program.
With the second iteration of the event a success, Sheatz and Co. look to bring back the event next season.
If you would like to still donate to the cause you can always donate to the Yolanda G. Barco Oncology fund.
Also Lung Cancer screenings are pretty important. You might wanna check that out just to be safe.
Owen Krepps can be reached at 814-724-6370 or at owenk@meadvilletribune.com.
