ALUMNI BASKETBALL TURNS 30
What started in the old high school gym in 1992 as a unique, one-time event celebrated its 30th anniversary in the new high school gym this November, with players covering five decades carrying on Sidney’s tradition of basketball excellence. The Sidney Alumni Basketball Association milestone coincided with the Sports Hall of Fame Induction Weekend. The anniversary event saw the return of the doubleheader format and lots of Lady Warriors joining their male counterparts in the fun. Founder and SABA Commissioner Greg Davie, ‘76, felt while the turnout of players could have been better, the event was a nice tribute to now-retired varsity boys’ coach and HOF inductee, Mike Brazee, ‘76. The opener was a co-ed game, blending old-timer men with all Lady Warriors. It was no contest, though, as the real interest was seeing who was on which team. The final score was 33-9, in favor of Team Fly over Team Breeze. Team Breeze included the four oldest men, two of whom played in the very first alumni game (Greg Davie and Mike Brazee); the third, John Elwood, ‘74, was the oldest alumnus on the floor. They were joined by Tom Woodruff, ‘82; the oldest female, Melissa Holowacz Rowe, ’98; and a trio of 2009 grads: Chelsea Pixley Rose, Brittney Schunk Pendorf and Rachel Ward. Team Fly (as in Legacy coach Loraine Flyzik) featured four of Flyzik’s 2001-‘02 team members – Ashley Brazee, ‘02, Jessica Mertz Plona, ‘04, Amanda Haney Blette, ‘94 and Tiffany Mott Thomas, ‘03 – as well as three men who were sophomore members of Mike Brazee’s first varsity squad in the 1990-‘91 season: Jeremy Folmsbee, Tripp Whitaker and Jerry Warner, all ’93 graduates. Both MVPs wore the white jerseys of Team Fly. Jerry Warner (14 points) and Amanda Haney Blette (10) shared honors in the runaway win. There was a break between games to honor the 2020-‘21 class of Sports Hall of Fame inductees and the Legacy Team, with an appreciative audience of roughly 140 people. The young guns game has usually been one filled with action and scoring runs. This year’s point totals were lower than normal, but the action was on full display. Team (Coach Bob) Finnegan prevailed over Team Brazee, 6963, by using inside power over the bombs-away approach. Brazee’s squad came out firing Brazee's Players: Front row: Tripp Whitaker, '93, Nick Meno, '15, Brandon Bessett, '15, Jon Carvin, '00, Matt Vogel, '11, Hunter and made one more three-point shot '13, Jerry Warner, '93, Tyler Smith, '10, Chad Smith, '01; back row: Coach Brazee, Kody Westcott, '08, Trey Larson, '15, Pat (13) than twos (12). A slim first half lead Sowersby, Simonds, '06, Mike Graham, '01, Tyler Pixley, '10, Joe Matzel, '13, Damian Zimmer, '13, Terrell Dorsey, '02, Matt Thomas, ‘03, Eric Dorsey, Jr., '05, Coach Finnegan and Jeremy Folmsbee, '93. was lost during a prolonged cold streak