Players of all ages and skill sets played their hearts out in the first annual Michael Ice memorial basketball clinic and alumni game, held March 16 in the the Rye High School gym. 

 

By Melanie Cane

 

Players of all ages and skill sets played their hearts out in the first annual Michael Ice memorial basketball clinic and alumni game, held March 16 in the the Rye High School gym. They also raised funds For The Love of the Game Foundation, created by Michael’s family to award a college scholarship to a Rye High School senior varsity basketball player. The player will be selected by a nine-member selection committee, and will be awarded at the upcoming senior athletic dinner.

 

Former Rye High Coach Chris DiCintio and player Liam McCabe-Moran approached the Ice family about holding the special event and did a great job organizing a memorable day.

 

About 60 children in third through eighth grades participated in the two-hour clinic, run by NBA legend Jeff Ruland and a number of RHS players and coaches.

 

After the clinic, Rye High alums, from college freshman to graduates from the ’80s, competed in the alumni game coached by DiCintio and John Aguilar, with assistance from Kevin O’Connor. Alumnus Willie Totten donated all the T-shirts and jerseys and was a referee, along with Dave Roth.

 

Football Coach Dino Garr ran the clock and Steve Feeney announced the game.

 

The teams, Garnets and Black, played very competitively, but the Garnets came out on top, 76-66.