PHOTOS: Hewlett High School hoops it up for SIBSPlace

Hewlett High School played host to the second of three basketball games that were played in a six-day stretch for the annual Hoops for Hope fundraiser for SIBSPlace.

In the Jan. 18 contest, the varsity Bulldogs bested Kennedy High by 9, but the real winner was Rockville Centre-based SIBSPlace that collected $1,500 for its services that help children face the challenges of having a sibling enduring cancer or another devastating illness or a parent diagnosed with cancer.

Founded in 2000 by Hewlett Harbor resident Mike Schamroth, the free program has been sponsored by Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital since its inception.

“It’s a great cause and I’m honored to continue the tradition Bill Dubin (former Hewlett boys’ basketball head coach) started many years ago to benefit SIBS,” said Andy DeBernardo, the current head coach said at the game.

“This year we kept it mostly in-house and we want to thank the faculty and administration as well as Kennedy High School, their head coach Rory Block and the Nassau County boys’ basketball association for contributing,” DeBernardo added.

The two other games were played at Bethpage High School on Jan. 13 and at Sewanhaka High on Jan. 19. Both those games were sponsored by Peninsula Kiwanis.

“A few years ago Bill and I started a toy drive for SIBS and we plan to keep that going and to do a little bit more than the previous year,” DeBernardo said.