Flash player is required to view weather conditions. Download

site web  

HAMILTON — Hamilton and Badin high schools have never faced each other in boys basketball, but that's about to change.

Sort of.

The Rams and Big Blue will square off in a scrimmage next Saturday, Nov. 29, as part of the Bill Brewer Memorial GMC-GCL Showcase at HHS.

The event, which is the brainchild of Princeton athletic director Scott Kaufman, will feature 12 games at four different sites, with all the proceeds going to scholarship fund for the daughters of Brewer, the former Roger Bacon and Princeton coach who died of a heart attack last November.

"At the beginning I was hoping for four or five (Greater Miami Conference) schools and four or five (Greater Catholic League) schools," Kaufman said. "I sent an e-mail to every coach and athletic director in those two conferences, and within two weeks every school had said they wanted to be a part of this.

"The response was unbelievable," Kaufman continued. "Every coach couldn't wait to be a part of it, which I think speaks volumes about the respect they all had for Bill."

Because the GMC has 10 teams and the GCL 12, Kaufman had to find two more schools to make it even. Enter Indian Hill and Madeira.

While the games will not count on the official won-loss records, they will have a real game feel, especially at HHS.

"My senior year in 1988, when (Badin) won state, we did a scrimmage preview with them," said HHS graduate and current head coach Tim Robinson. "I still remember how competitive that game was, because we all knew each other from playing in the summers and in open gyms. I remember that game like it was yesterday."

Added Badin coach Nick Argentati, "I think it's a great thing for the City of Hamilton. Yes, it doesn't count as a regular game. But it's not going to be your normal scrimmage, either."

Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for students, and a full house is expected at HHS. The junior varsity game will begin at 6 p.m., followed by the varsity at 7:30.

In addition to the proceeds from ticket and T-shirt sales, the referees have all agreed to donate their game checks to the scholarship fund for Brewer's daughters. And $6,000 of the proceeds will go to the Ohio High School Athletic Association Foundation.

There also will be a $5 spaghetti dinner at HHS at 5:30, with all of those proceeds going to the scholarship fund for Brewer's daughters.

"Scott has done a great job organizing this," Robinson said. "I think it's going to be a huge success, and hopefully it will be something we do every year."

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2193 or jmorrison@coxohio.com.

Bill Brewer Memorial GMC-GCL Showcase Schedule

All games are Saturday, Nov. 29

At Hamilton

7:30 p.m. — Badin vs. Hamilton

At Princeton

11 a.m. — LaSalle vs. Colerain

1 p.m. — Chaminade-Julienne vs. Oak Hills

3 p.m. — Alter vs. Mason

5 p.m. — Roger Bacon vs. Sycamore

7 p.m. — Elder vs. Princeton

At Lakota West

1 p.m. — McNicholas vs. Lakota West

3 p.m. — Carroll vs. Madeira

5 p.m. — Purcell Marian vs. Fairfield

7 p.m. — St. Xavier vs. Middletown

At Moeller

12:30 p.m. — Fenwick vs. Indian Hill

7:30 p.m. — Moeller vs. Lakota East