IN THE PAINT NOTES: Coaches vs. Cancer/Suits & Sneakers week activities start Monday
Jan. 22—It started as a way to help families in need and grew into a massive fundraising effort.
Coaches vs. Cancer/Suits & Sneakers Week tips off its 16th campaign Monday across District 2 as communities band together to support the American Cancer Society. Scranton Prep boys basketball coach Andrew Kettel started the initiative when he was coach at Lackawanna Trail and former player Casey Cathrall's father, Joe Cathrall, was battling cancer and eventually died in 2008 at 50 years old.
Since then, more than
$3 million has been raised.
This week offers schools and teams an opportunity to hold individual activities, including a passing of the hat or raffles, and T-shirt sales at games in their home gymnasiums.
Last year, Valley View, Scranton, Dunmore and Scranton Prep were ranked among the top 10 schools, which includes colleges, for raising money during Coaches vs. Cancer/Suits & Sneakers Week.
This year, Kettel organized a preseason Coaches vs. Cancer Media Day for both the Lackawanna League and Wyoming Valley Conference at the Riverfront Sports Complex in Scranton. There, guest speaker Sunny Sunseri captivated the audience with a moving speech about his private cancer battle and the benefits he and other fighters receive through the efforts of the Coaches vs. Cancer program.
In addition to the annual week of activities, the Coaches vs. Cancer Hoopla Celebration returns after being canceled the last two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event is scheduled to conclude the week Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m. at The Banks Waterfront. A $25 donation is requested at the door, and you must be at least 21 years old to attend. There will be basket raffles and a 50/50 drawing. Entertainment is provided by EJ the DJ.
Scranton Prep hosts Abington Heights on Friday at the Xavier Center in an important Lackawanna Division I boys basketball game, and the school will again hold its traditional event between the junior varsity and varsity games. This year's guest speaker will be Kelly Grunstra, who is battling cancer and will share her story.
Road warriors
Mid Valley earned a win over Lakeland on Friday in a Lackawanna Division III boys basketball game.
The Spartans improved to 11-3 this season and have logged the most mileage through the 14 games. Mid Valley has played 11 games away from home to start the season. In those games, the team is 8-3, with the losses coming to Bethlehem Freedom (11-4), Carbondale Area (9-5) as part of the Peter Turonis/NBT Tournament and Holy Cross (10-3).
Junior center Ricky Vinansky is the team's leading scorer, averaging 19.9 points a game this season, and has 691 in his career. Senior Danny Nemitz, who eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for his career during the holiday tournament season, averages 17.4 points per game.
Moving forward, the Spartans host Old Forge in a key Lackawanna Division III game Tuesday and Dunmore on Friday. After another road game at Carbondale Area on Jan. 31, Mid Valley will play four straight games at home and finish the regular season on the road at Lakeland.
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