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More Youth Sports

• Eagles fly over First Baptist
• Charter school runners do well in tough competition
• Competition stiff for Charter School runners

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Community Night and basketball joined hands in the Marco Island Charter Middle School’s gym as an overflow crowd enjoyed the evening’s festivities.

Buoyed by a Kretch’s Restaurant menu, along with four basketball games, it was an evening that made Charter Principal George Abounader proud.

“We’ve been having community night here at the school for quite a few years now and this is the finest turnout I’ve seen,” Abounader said. “We’re very happy to have an evening where parents and friends can come out and enjoy themselves. With the fine food Kretch’s provides, and the excitement the basketball games have on the fans, we think it’s a fine evening for all.”

Roger Raymond, Charter athletic director and boys varsity basketball coach, agreed.

“Since we don’t have a football team, there’s no real homecoming, so about 10 years ago, we originated this idea of a community night built around basketball,” he said. “One of the first things I did back then was to go to Ellen and Bruce Kretchmer and ask if they would like to be a part of it. They’ve been with us ever since.”

Along with the basketball games, the charter school jazz band and chorus, under the direction of Karen Raymond, performed between contests. The school’s cheerleaders also maintained a steady stream of rousing cheers.

The YMCA’s “Miss Dottie” Weiner again conducted a 50-50 raffle.

“I was asked to do this last year and so many people won so much money that I decided to come back and do it again,” she said.

In junior varsity and varsity basketball games against St. Ann of Naples, the Charter School came out 3-1.

Kit fowler’s 12 points paced the varsity boys, with the Eagles winning, 46-35. The girls varsity won a 27-24 thriller. Katie Hogan led the Lady Eagles with 11 points as they raced to a 14-2 first-quarter lead and held off a late charge.

“We got some good scoring in the second half,” said Raymond of the boys effort. “But that last quarter shooting from the field (2-for-10) is going to have to improve if we’re going to go anywhere.”

Craig Fisher, girls coach, said, “We had a very good effort at the end when Mary Gibler came up with a big rebound when we really needed it. In all, I was really pleased with the effort everybody gave tonight.”

In JV action the Eagles boys were led in scoring by Greg Trzyna, 14 points, and Will Bott and Stephen Langebeeke, in a 35-29 win. Cassidy Penzo tallied eight points in the Lady Eagles 46-24 loss.