Jan 4, 2008 — There will be basketball aplenty this weekend at the Grumbacher Center, as the Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament comes to town with not four, but eight teams taking the floor.

For the first time, both the York College men's and women's teams will be in action for the Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament on the same weekend.

In fact, it is the first time the two York squads have shared a two-day tourney. Some years ago, York hosted a combined tournament, but it was over three days and not a Coaches vs. Cancer event.

"(York men's coach) Jeff (Gamber) and I decided to put efforts together for one big tournament," Spartans women's coach Betsy Witman said. "I think overall it will bring more spectators."

Part of the unique flair will be women's and men's games being played on a rotating basis.

The Elizabethtown College women will square off against McDaniel College at 2 p.m. today, followed by Elizabethtown's men taking on Johns Hopkins University, scheduled for 4 p.m.

York teams will play in the next two games, when the women face SUNY-Oneonta at 6 p.m., and the men will close out the full day of hoops against Eastern University at 8 p.m.

All eight squads return on Saturday with the women's consolation getting under way at noon, followed by the men's consolation game.

Today's winners take to the floor for their respective championship games with the women's final scheduled for 4 p.m. and the men's tipoff set for 6 p.m.

Witman

added that the ideal situation would have been for all three of the visiting teams being from the same school, but scheduling proved to be too difficult for the other institutions.

"That would bring even better crowds," she said. "Obviously the goal is to raise as much money as possible."

According to the American Cancer Society, the National Association of Basketball Coaches adapted the Coaches vs. Cancer concept in 1993 across all Divisions of the NCAA and has raised more than $30 million to date.

Reach Steve Navaroli at 771-2060 or snavaroli@ydr.com.