BERLIN, CT (WFSB) – Middle schoolers at McGee Middle School faced off against their teachers in a basketball game, but the real score had nothing to do with the points.
The game was about donating to charities. Through different fundraising efforts, the middle school students raised nearly $9,500 that will be split between 18 different charities chosen by students.
Annual tradition dates to 1988
Bryan Ploma, a physical education and wellness teacher at McGee Middle, helped organize this year’s event, which has been going on since 1998.
“It’s just like the real March Madness. It’s crazy,” Ploma said. “There’s always a last-minute buzzer beater.”
The game was close from the start. At halftime, the teachers were up one point, 26-25.
“A lot of these students have close connections to these charities,” Ploma said. “The kids actually get to connect with somebody from the charity.”
Student supports camp that helped her family
Allison Bowman was one of the star players on this year’s seventh grade team.
“It was just funny to see how my teachers played basketball and see if they were really as good as they said they were,” Bowman said.
Bowman chose to support the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, a Connecticut nonprofit aimed at serving children and their families coping with chronic illnesses. Bowman has been there.
“My brother had cancer,” Bowman said.
When she was three years old, she spent time at the camp with her family.
“I remember when my brother looked really happy and I was happy for him because I never really got to see him when I was little because he was always in the hospital,” Bowman said.
Bowman said she wanted to give back to the charity that helped her family.
“I had a really fun time and I know my brother did too and a lot of other kids, so I just hope other people can have fun,” Bowman said.
The teachers won the game 51-49.
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