Although Winter Storm Fern condensed the 12th annual Rock the Ribbon Roundball Shootout from two days to one day, the event still drew large crowds and was a successful fundraiser for the American Cancer Society on Friday, Jan. 23. The event took place at Rockbridge County High School in Lexington.
Originally, there were 11 high school basketball games scheduled on Friday and seven on Saturday, Jan. 24. With the storm coming in Saturday afternoon, all of Saturday’s games were canceled, and a late night girls’ game between Rockbridge County and Parry McCluer was added to Friday’s schedule.
The event, presented by ALCOVA Mortgage and Rock Hardwoods, was organized by Travis Patterson, Rock the Ribbon founder and director. Numbers were still being added up from this year, but the event raised about $110,00 for the American Cancer Society in its first 11 years.
The Rockbridge County boys opened Rock the Ribbon with a game that took place during the school day on the afternoon of Jan. 23. The Wildcats suffered a 72-36 loss to a sharpshooting and athletic Roanoke Catholic team.
After school was out, there were games between the Staunton and William Byrd boys and girls, followed by a showdown between the prestigious boys basketball teams from Oak Hill Academy and Colorado Preparatory Academy. The event concluded with the local rivalry game, with the PM girls defeating the Wildcats 39-31.
