OCEAN CITY BASKETBALL CLASSIC DONATES TO ATLANTIC GENERAL HOSPITAL'S JOHN H. "JACK" BURBAGE JR. REGIONAL CANCER CARE CENTER

Berlin, Md. – The 44^th Annual Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Ocean City Basketball Classic raised $1,700 to be donated to the John H. “Jack” Burbage, Jr. Regional Cancer Care Center for the Atlantic General Campaign for the Future.

The classic was held in Ocean City June 21 -23 to benefit the local cancer care center. Sixty-six teams from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland competed in the tournament.

Throughout the tournament, a $15 donation for each three-point basket made was donated to the Burbage Regional Cancer Center. More than 100 three point baskets were made during the three-day competition.

“The teams and spectators were involved in tracking our donation goal throughout the tournament. When the final three-point basket was made to meet our goal of $1,700, the gym went crazy! It was great to see the support,” stated Tournament Director, Lynn Smack.

Smack was enthusiastic about supporting the cancer center in honor of his best friend, Anthony Davis, who suffered from bladder cancer. Davis was a graduate of Stephen Decatur High School and played basketball for many years.

Smack started this tournament in 1980 when it was called the Berlin Basketball Classic, with only eight teams. The tournament was later moved to Ocean City and has grown to more than 80 boys and girls teams, attracting participants from as far away as Denmark. The tournament is sanctioned by AAU and has been recognized by AAU as one of the top elite tournaments in the country.

The Ocean City Basketball Classic has contributed to many organizations and individuals over the years, including churches, scholarships and book drives.

For more information about the tournament, visitwww.oceancitybasketballclassic.org.

Caption: From L to R: Toni Keiser, vice president of public relations at AGH; Al “Hondo” Handy; Michael Franklin, president and CEO of AGH; Shelia Davis; Lynn Smack, Ocean City Basketball Classic tournament director; Gloria Blake; Tashaelyn Trader; Tammy Patrick, development officer