Andrew James Lawson Invitational returns to TD Garden on January 30

Jason Snow, The Patriot Ledger
·2 min read

The parquet floor of the late Andrew Lawson's favorite NBA team will be occupied by high school basketball teams for the third straight year.

On Sunday, Jan. 30, TD Garden will host the Andrew James Lawson Invitational, which features a 10-game, day-long schedule that includes seven local teams. Lawson, a Norwell High student from 2004-2008, died in 2017 at the age of 27 after a two-year battle with cancer.

Down syndrome didn't stop Lawson from once sitting at the kitchen table filling out the Red Sox' lineup cards or even skiing, swimming and playing tennis in the Special Olympics. His passion for the latter, especially, makes the new addition to this year's event even more special for the Lawson family.

The Hingham and Weymouth unified basketball teams will get the day started with a 7:15 a.m. tip-off. It's the first time the invitational has hosted a Unified game.

More: Weymouth and Hingham set for TD Garden first at Lawson Invitational

"We are so excited to have Unified teams be a part of the tournament this year as they exemplify the foundation’s mission of inclusion," the Lawson family said in a statement. "Our hope is to expand the Unified teams' involvement in the future.”

Hanover head coach Nick Hannigan kisses the head of Regina Lawson, Andrew Lawson’s mother, while Norwell head coach John Willis is overcome with emotion after being presented with the Andrew J. Lawson Inclusion Award at halftime of their game at the TD Garden on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. Nick Hannigan was an assistant coach at Norwell High from 2005 to 2012 while Andrew was a student there from 2004-2008.

After, four local boys basketball teams face off against each other in the heart of the packed schedule. Lawson's hometown Norwell Clippers take on Silver Lake at 1 p.m., followed by Scituate vs. Marshfield at 2:30. Rounding out the local teams, the Cardinal Spellman girls team takes the floor at 8:30 a.m. against Malden Catholic, right after the unified game concludes.

“We are grateful to the high school teams who participate and support the Foundation. Andrew was a sports fanatic," the Lawson family said. "To be at the Garden with high school athletes, coaches and fans – and a video about Andrew’s life of inclusion playing on the Jumbotron – is such a fitting and wonderful way to honor his memory."

The Andrew James Lawson Foundation website is andrewjameslawsonfoundation.org and can also be followed on Facebook and Instagram, @AndrewJamesLawsonFDN. Ticket information can be found on the foundation's website.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: TD Garden to host Andrew James Lawson invitational on January 30