'Hoops for Hope' entertaining for all

Ethan DeHart (middle) watches the action unfold during the first "Hoops for Hope" game with his father Chris DeHart (left) and Scott Buell. The game pitted the staffs from Northview High School against North Clay Middle School. All proceeds will be used to support the upcoming 2011 Clay County American Cancer Society's Relay For Life event. Jason Moon Photo. [Order this photo]

Several former area basketball standouts and Clay Community School Corporation teachers provided a few hours of entertainment Monday for a good cause.

The first "Hoops for Hope" charity basketball game took place at Northview High School, with teams from Northview and North Clay Middle School facing each other.

The charity basketball game was the brainchild of Northview Key Club Sponsor Pat Krider. All proceeds from the game will be used to support the upcoming 2011 Clay County American Cancer Society's Relay For Life event.

She said she got the idea a few years ago after watching a charity basketball between staff from Clay City and Northview and hopes the game will become an annual event.

"I want to make it a yearly thing," Krider said.

In the end, the high school team came away victorious, 69-66, in triple-overtime.

Phil Leonard sank two free throws to give Northview a 67-65 lead midway through the third overtime, but North Clay's Shawn Hughes brought his team within one with a free throw with 36 ticks remaining.

With four seconds left in the third overtime, Chris DeHart hit two free throws, giving Northview a 69-66 lead, which North Clay could not recover from.

"Hoops for Hope" organizer Pat Krider designed this trophy, which was presented to the Northview High School team following the charity basketball Monday. The NHS squad defeated North Clay Middle School, 69-66, in triple-overtime. Jason Moon Photo. [Order this photo]

Along with Hughes, other North Clay team members included Kenny Rowan, Greg Burns, Glen Gill, Nathan Hopf, Greg Mogan, Rex Hane, Bob Osborn, Jason Setliff, Kendall Sheets and Clay Huffman. The squad was coached by Mitch Lancaster.

Referees included James Pell, Jeff Bridgewater, Kirk Freeman and Josh Clarke.

DeHart -- who finished his playing days at Northview with more than 1,000 points -- said having the chance to take part in the game was eventful.

"It's a great cause," DeHart said. "It's great being part of something that will make a difference."

Rowan -- who is Northview's all-time leading scorer and also ranks 19th all-time in the state -- agreed.

"Probably everyone in this crowd has been touched by cancer," he said.

During timeouts and halftime, entertainment was provided by an "oldster" hoops band, guard girls and cheerleading squads, among others.