The games on the court were thrilling, but the reason for the basketball games was even more important at the 7th Annual Cougar Classic Basketball tournament last week at Honeoye Falls-Lima High.
Annual Cougar Classic Basketball Showcase is a vehicle to raise funds for local families or local charitable organizations. This year, proceeds benefitted Austin Blodgett, a kindergarten student at Lima Primary School who has been diagnosed with Alagille Syndrome. This is a rare, difficult to treat disorder in which bile flow from the liver is decreased and there are fewer than normal bile ducts. It affects the liver, digestive system, heart, circulatory system, kidneys, renal system, lungs, pulmonary system, brain, vascular system and the skeletal system. It is difficult to treat because no two cases are the same.
The Showcase this year featured games on December 28 between Livonia and Wellsville followed by Monroe High vs. HF-L. A check was presented to Austin just before the Monroe/HF-L game since he was not going to be present on the last night of the tournament December 30. He was flying to Florida for a visit to Disney World thanks to the Make A Wish Foundation.
Over the course of the two nights of games, a total of $1,800 was raised to help Austin and his family with medical expenses, said HF-L Athletic Director Brian Donohue.
“We thank all those who came out and supported Austin and this tournament,” Donohue said.
