Bishops realize dream with charity game in Big Apple

It was only an exhibition game, but the members of the Bishop England basketball team will remember Friday's 34-31 victory over Ridge View for the rest of their lives.

The Battling Bishops claimed victory when Walker Heffron hit a 3-point goal at the buzzer to provide the win. But what made the victory even more special was the venue.

The Bishops traveled to New York to play in the landmark Madison Square Garden, a basketball meccas.

"It wasn't pretty," Bishop England coach Jeff DiBattisto said of his team's performance. "But I have no problem with that. That's what preseason games are for."

The opposition was one of the reasons for the low score. The other reason a case of the nerves.

"They were absolutely nervous when they took the floor," the coach said. "They were shaking in the huddle. Again, I had no problem with that because I would be shaking if I were a high school player playing in Madison Square Garden.

The Bishops raised nearly $20,000 for the trip and once all the travel bills are paid, the team will donate any leftover funds to the MUSC Pediatric Cancer Research Center.

The team flew out of Charleston at 6:30 a.m. Thursday and are scheduled to return at 11 p.m. today.

The trip also included some sightseeing. The Bishops visited Ground Zero, walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, toured the Statue of Liberty, had dinner Saturday night in Little Italy and were scheduled to attend Mass this morning at St. Patrick's Cathedral.

"It's a once in a lifetime experience for the kids and the coaches," DiBattisto said. "We were in awe at Madison Square Garden. North Carolina was walking off the court and it was time for us to play. I think that blew the kids' minds. Here's North Carolina, the defending national champion, completing its shoot-around and we played right after that."

DiBattisto and Ridge View coach Jon John Combs both were students assistants at the University of South Carolina under Eddie Fogler, and the two used their connections to scrimmage every year at the Colonial Center. But this year, the schools got an invitation from the Gazelle Group, the tourney organizer of the 2K Sports Classic benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer. The opportunity was too good to pass up, and now the coaches and players have some good memories that will last a lifetime.

SCISA Shrine Bowl

The fifth annual SCISA Oasis Shriners All-Star Classic football game will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Charlotte Latin High School.

The game features the top independent school seniors from the Palmetto State against the top seniors from North Carolina.

Lowcountry players selected to play in the all-star game include Ethan Bair, Dorchester Academy; Trevor Davis, Dorchester Academy; Ethan Gort, Hilton Head Christian; C.J. Downey, St. John's Christian; Harrison Greer, First Baptist; Parker Headley, Colleton Prep; Alex Marshall, Porter-Gaud; Donnie Mescia, Colleton Prep; Chris Morgan, Pinewood Prep; Moses Richardson, Pinewood Prep; Galen Givens-Rowland, Porter-Gaud. Deonte Scott, Hilton Head Prep; Damien Simmons, Pinewood Prep; Uriah Singleton, Northwood Academy and Henry West, Porter-Gaud.

Attention coaches

Winter sports coaches or their representatives are asked to report the results of their games or matches in a timely manner to ensure publication in the next day's edition of The Post and Courier. The best way to report games is e-mail, which saves coaches time and ensures correct spelling of players names. The e-mail address to report games is sportsdesk@postandcourier.com. Scores can also be called in at (800) 209-2609 or 937-5586.

Also, coaches or athletic directors are asked to e-mail winter sports schedules to pbowman@postandcourier.com.

Reach Philip M. Bowman at pbowman@postandcourier.com or at 937-5592.