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Pingry Hoopsters are Caught Up in March Madness
March 22, 2004
The first week in March saw a burst of energy as basketball enthusiasts of all ages converged on the various courts at both campuses in a variety games. First there was Pingry March Madness, then the First Annual Father vs. Son game, and finally the Fifth Annual Sixth Grade vs. Faculty game.
The Pingry version of March Madness was instituted fourteen years ago by Assistant Headmaster Adam Rohdie as a fundraiser. Each year, students form three-player teams, donate a nominal fee in order to participate, and play three-on-three tournament-style basketball. The groups are separated into Middle School boys and girls, Upper School girls, Upper School league players (boys), the peoples’ group of non-basketball players, and the elite group composed of alumni, teachers, staff, and anyone else who would like to participate. The fast-paced games are to 15 points with no personal fouls called or rebounds allowed. Each game is played on a half court. This year’s March Madness charity is the F.O.P. Foundation in which the funds raised will go towards fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva research.
Soon after the gym was vacated by the March Madness hoopsters, the Pingry fathers and sons took the floor. In a dazzling show of athleticism by all ages, the game was exciting to witness as full court passes and assisted jump shots were regularly played. The final score was a well-earned 55 (fathers) to 70 (sons). Faculty member Tim Jaqua organized the event and hopes it will become a Pingry tradition. Several mothers offered a banquet of post-game sandwiches, drinks, and homemade desserts as a reward to a game well played.
On the Friday before spring break began, the sixth-grade students took on the Short Hills faculty in a spectacular basketball game full of school-wide enthusiasm. The periods were four minutes long to allow all the sixth graders to rotate into the game. While the faculty had a clear height advantage, the students quickly became a team and stole the ball at every chance. Each basket was met with thunderous applause by the student body cheering for either the faculty or the sixth grade. According to Leslie Miller, a physical education teacher at Short Hills, “This is a great way to send them into their break – exhausted!” This was the fifth annual faculty/sixth-grade game, and judging by the reaction of students, faculty, and guests, it is on its way to becoming a Pingry tradition.
© 2004 The Pingry School |
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