16th Annual Alumni Basketball Tournament

We've Got Spirit Yes We DO!  We've Got Spirit How About YOU!!!! 

That familiar cheer  was heard on more than one occasion during this past weekend's 16th Annual Alumni Basketball Tournament.  This year's tourney was one for the ages for a number of reasons.

First it featured a record field of 16 teams divided into 3 divisions:


Division A Less Competitive/Costume (4 Teams)
Won by first time Champion Team NBA (Grad '04 and younger)


Division B  Very Competitive (4 Teams) 
Won by first time Champion Team Agrodome (Grads of '07-'08)
Best Offensive Player was Michael Cheung ('08)


Division C Moderately Competiive (8 Teams)
Won by the FARTS (Grads of '76-'83)
Best Defensive Player was Bob/Ben Hieltjes ('81-'82)
FARTS grabbing knees in honour of injured Shinning Knight Award winner Dave Sherley ('81)

Download this year's program:
2012 Alumni Bball Program


The Air Knight Award was given to Brian O'Neill ('01) not for his limited vertical but rather for the number of "AIR BALLS" he fired up throughout the tourney.  (He redeemed himself however by hitting a deep three in the Saturday game which drew a game-stopping celebration from both teams which was reminiscent of a scene from the classic film Chariots of Fire.  Even I had a tears of joy forming in my eyes! 

The Spirit Award winners, the Hammer City Rollers (Grads of 2000), were not only "spirited" on the court, but on Saturday afternoon they held their own mini-Phonathon in support of the More Spirit Campaign.  Their pledge total grew throughout the afternoon and by the tourney's end, they had raised well in excess of $20,000.  What an example for all grade levels to aspire to!  In total over $40,000 was raised through player donations over the 3 days of the tourney.  Yet another example of the unique spirit that is St. Thomas More Collegiate.  We are in the midst of a virtual miracle here as the impossible, raising $6.1 million, now seems completely within our grasp.

As the 100 day campaign draws to a close, we need $120,000 to reach the total of $6.1 million needed to break ground on the gym.  In fact, as pledges literally are coming in by the minute that $120,000 total is dropping quickly.  The goal seemed like a pipe dream a short time ago, and now, thanks to the generous, legendary spirit of the STMC Community, it is truly within our grasp