KICKING CANCER’S BUTT: This year, Hoops for Hope raised $27,000 for Eli Van Gorder. He was diagnosed with stage IV brain cancer last October. Hoops 4 Hope is an annual basketball game between West Lafayette and Harrison High School that is held in order to raise money for people in need throughout the community.  This year, the event was held at Bill Berberian Gymnasium at West Lafayette High School on February 21, 2014.

It was started in 2008 when West Lafayette’ Math teacher Karri Newgent’s daughter Caroline was in the hospital after she was diagnosed with leukemia.  Her ex-husband taught at Harrison so the two schools put their fundraising efforts together in order to raise money for Caroline.  While in the hospital, she received pictures of students wearing their Hoops 4 Hope t-shirts and a check with the money that the two schools earned that year.  Since 2008, Hoops 4 Hope has brought in just over $125,000 to help those in need in the community.

“We did a fundraiser at Red Mango, where 20% of the proceeds went towards the cause, we applied for a parking lot grant and we are donating all of the money to Hoops 4 Hope, we collected donations from fans at Purdue basketball games in the parking lots,” Newgent said.

Students at West Lafayette also know of a fundraiser the student council did called “Stop the Fox.” This fundraiser brought in over $5,500 with contributions from Mr. Studt and Mrs. Schott’s classes and an anonymous donor who sent in a check for $5,000.

This event always allows Harrison and West Lafayette students to be a part of something to benefit the community.

Apart from the fundraising efforts, people gathered at the event also enjoy a rivalry matchup that usually end up to be satisfying for basketball fans.  The past three regular season meetings between West Lafayette and Harrison have gone down to the wire.

“Both teams are always very motivated, you can throw the records out.  It has been a very exciting game for players coaches and fans the last several years,” Coach Wood said.

Three years ago, Red Devil grad Ben Thomas gathered a rebound of a missed shot by the Red Devils and made a shot from two feet out at the buzzer to win the game.  Two years ago, Raider grad Nathaniel Wissman made a three point shot with Harrison’s last offensive possession to clinch the win.  Last year, Harrison had the ball down one point with under 10 seconds left in the game.  Noah Thomas made a fadeaway two point shot at the buzzer to win the game for the Raiders.

This year, West Lafayette prevailed in another close 53-50 win.  Clutch free throw shooting by Jared Snoble ’15 and Nai Carlisle ’16 sealed the game for the Red Devils which also happened to be West Lafayette’s senior night.  Senior William Mbongo got the Red Devils off to a hot start and never looked back.  He finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds.

“We always have a good collaborative effort working together and I was particularly happy that West Side could make a greater contribution to the cause than in year’s past.  Both of the causes that we were supporting were from Harrison this year and I think it’s cool that what we do is a local effort and all the money stays local,” Class President Brad Krause ’14 said.