Patriot Boys to Play in Coaches vs. Cancer High School Shootout

Thanks to a new NCAA rule that prohibits non-scholastic groups from hosting high school athletic events on Division I school campuses, organizers of the Coaches vs. Cancer Shootout still don't know if the 2012 event will be held at Chaifetz Arena. But Thursday morning, they announced pairings for the day-long basketball feast January 26, and Ballwin-Ellisville Patch fans aren’t left out. The Patriot boys are included.

The boys (4-3 currently) will play MICDS (4-2) in the 11:00 a.m. game.

The pairings were announced at a Thursday breakfast at Scottrade Center that featured coaches from many of the participating teams as well as former Missouri basketball coach Norm Stewart, former Illinois Ilini coach Lou Henson and their modern day counterparts Bruce Weber and Frank Haith.

Coaches vs. Cancer is a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Basketball coaches, their teams and communities combine their efforts to make a difference in the fight against cancer.

"We're taking the morning off from school, and trying to actually get the kids involved in raising money and coming to the game and to hopefully make a good showing in the game, but also make a financial impact as well,” said Westminster head coach Steve Stipanovich.

Stewart, the former Missouri Head Coach who founded the Coaches vs. Cancer movement following his own battle with the disease said he hoped next year the effort could surpass $100 million raised. Frank Haith spoke of his own sister, who was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer.

The event has asked for an NCAA waiver to allow the event to stay on the campus of St. Louis University. Organizers hope to have an answer before the end of the year about where the tournament will take place.

The other pairings:

• 9:30 a.m. MICDS vs. Westminster Christian Academy (Girls)
• 12:30 p.m. Belleville East (IL) vs. Belleville West (IL) (Boys)
• 2:15 p.m. Alton Marquette (IL) vs. Glenbard East (IL) (Boys)
• 3:45 p.m. Webster Groves vs. McCluer (Boys)
• 5:30 p.m. St. Joseph's Academy vs. Bolingbrook (IL) (Girls)
• 7:00 p.m. Vianney vs. Cardinal Ritter (Boys)
• 8:30 p.m. Soldan vs. Riverside Academy (LA)