MT. ARARAT’S Mallory Nelson (right) looks to the basket with Morse defender Brianna Bigelow putting a hand in the way during the first “Playing for a Cure” fundraiser at Mt. Ararat High School on Tuesday. All money raised went to Breast Cancer Research. The Shipbuilders won the game 41-38. In the top photo, Mt. Ararat guard Katie Labbay, left, looks for someone to pass to while being guarded by Morse forward Lauren Crosby (23) and guard Katie Henrikson.
If you like the color pink, the place to be was the Mt. Ararat High School gymnasium on Tuesday as the Eagles and Shipbuilders met in a preseason tilt. The only thing on the line this time around was pride from two proud teams, with Breast Cancer Research the main focus.
The players wore pink jerseys, Morse a light shade, with the Eagles sporting brilliant pink threads as the night belonged to “Playing for a Cure.” The money raised from the gate, donations and the large quantity of food was entirely for Breast Cancer Research.
“I got the idea from when Gardiner and Cony were in different classes but still played in the preseason and raised money,” said LaFountain, whose team is slated to visit Edward Little in its Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference opener tonight (7 p.m.). “I gave (Morse coach) Mike (Hart) a call, and he was all for it.
“The timing was good for not only playing a game to prepare both teams for the season, but to raise money. Plus, it allows us to still continue our rivalry while doing something for the community.”
“When Kelly reached out to me and suggested this, I just knew that we had to do it,” said Hart, whose squad has a little bit more time to prepare for its season opener, visiting Oak Hill and former Shipbuilder coach Tom Morong in its KVAC Class B opener on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. “This is certainly for a great cause, and our plans are to continue to do this every year.”
Rivalry put on hold
“We didn’t want to lose this rivalry,” Hart added, whose squad will not see Brunswick and Mt. Ararat during the regular season after Morse was moved to a mostly Eastern Class B schedule despite being in Western Class B for the postseason. “I think Mt. Ararat is going to have a great team, so a game like this helps prepare us and them for the season. For me, I have become friends with many of the coaches in Class A. So, I will be keeping an eye on things and hoping everyone will do well.”
And, about Tuesday’s events?
“Anytime you can do something like this and raise money for a worthy cause, it is a good thing. The girls, their parents and those in the crowd are doing a good thing tonight and I hope it helps someone,” said Hart.
The game had a regular-season feel to it, as both squads battled hard for 32 minutes, with the Shipbuilders coming out on top 41-38.
There were splendid moments, like Mt. Ararat’s Sierra Gilley hitting a 3-pointer from 25 feet at the halftime horn to send the teams to the break tied 20-20, or the Shipbuilders going on a thirdquarter run to take the lead for good behind 3-point field goals from Katie Henrikson and Tori Field.
Players dove for loose balls, took charges, blocked shots and battled for every inch of real estate, as the good things about this rivalry came to the forefront, which has featured hard-fought contests, sweat and tears.
But, on this night, it was all about Breast Cancer Research as the players, most of them friends for several years while playing in recreation leagues together and against each other, hugged and wished each other luck as they went their separate ways, with the regular season set to begin in earnest in the coming days.
“ Thank you Morse for agreeing to play this game for such a great cause,” LaFountain said to the players and the crowd.
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