By JOSEPH KELLARD
Minutes earlier, Eric Supple's three-pointer had given the Golden T¹s their first lead of the game, 39-37, after they trailed 27-15 at halftime. But Oceanside¹s senior center answered by taking an in-bounded ball and instantly putting it up from behind the three-point line with 55 seconds to go.
³Amazing,² Greco said about hitting the money shot of the two-day fund-raising tournament at Oceanside High School.
³We run that play every day in practice, and it¹s designed for George,² coach Dan Keegan said. ³He made a really gutsy shot.²
Spearheaded by Nassau County Legislator Jeff Toback, the tournament featured four games and an awards dinner at which the tournament¹s most valuable player, Greco, and its all-tournament team, the Sailors, were honored. To advance to the championship, Oceanside defeated the Hewlett Bulldogs 64-53 behind Greco¹s 38 points, and Lawrence beat the Valley Stream South Falcons 52-32 last Friday. On Saturday, after Dan Fisher banked a buzzer-beater at halftime in the 4th Legislative District Consolation Game, his Bulldogs went on to down the Falcons 44-34 before Greco scored another 22 points in the championship game against Lawrence.
The tournament raised about $3,000 to benefit South Nassau Communities Hospital. ³About a month before the event,² Toback said, ³the coaches from the four teams decided to donate the money raised at the tournament to various charities at South Nassau.²
Signature Bank sponsored the games, and North Fork Bank sponsored the awards dinner. Modell¹s Sporting Goods sponsored the all-tournament team, the Herald Community Newspapers were the media sponsor, and the Lawrence Teachers Association, the Oceanside Federation of Teachers, Incredible Feets, Chapter One Books, Elyse Vending, Toback, NGL Insurance and the Oceanside GOP were tournament sponsors.
"This was an idea that I had in the spring to try and foster a sense of community and charity,² Toback said, ³and I thought by bringing together more high schools within my district for a charity basketball tournament, it would benefit the kids athletically and would build charitable spirit. That's what we're hoping to do."
About the prospect that the Signature Tip-Off Classic will become an annual event, Toback said, "I'm really encouraged by all the support we got from the local businesses, and I hope that it's something that we all determine was worthwhile and that we want to continue [the] endeavor."
Comments about this story? JKellard@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 287.
