SYRACUSE — It was a night that brought out the best in a community. A night that honored a hero. And a night that had some very uncoordinated basketball. Wednesday night at Wawasee High School the Lake City Media Hoopsters faced off with the Syracuse Police Department with the goal of raising money for Veenstra Victory.

Jason Veenstra shows his appreciation for Steve McNamara, the man who helped rescue him after an electrical accident last summer. (Photos by Nick Goralczyk)

Veenstra Victory is a fund set up for Jason Veenstra, an officer that was injured in an electrical accident last year.

The night began with Veenstra, and Syracuse police chief Jim Layne, presenting Steven McNamara with a plaque. McNamara, a NIPSCO worker, helped to rescue Veenstra the day of the accident.

The game was entertaining to begin with. Frankie Avalon hit a buzzer-beating three to give the Hoopsters an 11-10 lead after the first quarter. Keaton Adams hit another buzzer-beater for Lake City right before the half, but the Syracuse PD had already opened up a 32-18 lead at that point.

Syracuse, which was represented on the scoreboard as “SPD-Fuzz” pulled away in the second half, but some tweaking from the scoreboard operator and some highly questionable officiating led to a tie game in the final minute. SPD would pull out a 57-55 win. Though no official scoring was kept, Avalon and SPD’s Joe Leach had the bulk of their respective team’s points.

The Wawasee High School cheer team decorated the gym with signs for Veenstra, had banners for both teams to run through and special chants for Veenstra. WHS basketball senior basketball players Parker Hatfield and Jayce Boatwright officiated the game while senior wrestler Stephen Possell announced the game with color.

The event raised over $2,100 for the Veenstra Victory, and donations continue to roll in for the cause.