> SOUTHERN INDIANA — Almost immediately after the tornado hit Henryville, HoosierHillsHoops.com and Southern Indiana all-around basketball guy Matt Denison contacted me about doing a benefit basketball game for Henryville.

We talked about it and decided to include most of the local schools that were also affected in Eastern (Pekin), Borden, New Washington as well as Henryville High School.

We thought and do think that this wasn’t just one small community affected, but the larger local community. We felt it was important to have a night to raise money, but to also have a basketball night for the fans as well. Fans would feel they are helping in some way, but getting something they love in return — a night of basketball.

With much work done on Denison’s part, we will have “A Night of Hoops and Hope” on Saturday, May 12 at Silver Creek High School. Seniors from affected areas as well as seniors from Clark, Floyd, Harrison and Washington counties, will participate in boys’ and girls’ All-Star games.

The girls’ game is scheduled for 6 p.m. with the boys’ to play at 8:30 p.m. Admission to the games will be $5. All proceeds will be donated to the communities affected by the storms into relief funds that will be selected by the organizing committee of the games.

Denison has spent a considerable amount of time organizing this event with no pay for himself and trying to maximize both the funds that will be raised, but the entertainment of the event as well.

A Night of Hoops and Hope, I am not sure if we can have too many opportunities to spread hope in anything we do and Denison has found something with this that he and I have in common — basketball.

It doesn’t matter if it deals with the tornado event or being a father or husband, hope is the only thing that many people in these areas have left and hope, when you have lost everything, might be the only thing that keeps you going forward.

Even though the actual tornado has gone (it did so within minutes), the effects of the tornado will be around for many years. From the changed landscape to the psychological issues, the “tornado” is not gone.

The boys’ and girls’ coaches from all four schools have donated something along the way. They are Borden’s Terry Rademacher and Doc Nash, New Washington’s Jon May and Terry White, Eastern’s Scott Newcomb and Mike McBride and Henryville’s Josh Conrad and myself. Along with us, Martin Luther and Mitchell Speedy have provided support to Denison.

Also, marketing and public relations have been handled by Bob Gunnell with Boxcar Public Relations, the referees’ coordinator is Damon Smith with South Central Officials’ Association, the communications and media liasion is Kenzie Winstead and the managing financial institution is Your Community Bank.

It is wonderful that so many people have been involved with this event. But I think it is important that what Denison has organized is not just a fundraiser, but also a night of fun for everyone.

Thanks to all the people involved in making this night possible. From Denison to all of the people volunteering their time, to the gate workers and to the people working for free at Silver Creek, the giving of people in the aftermath of the tornado is unprecedented in anything I have seen in my life.

Go to www.hoosierhillshoops.com for more details, and make plans to come out May 12 at 6 p.m. and support your community who will be dealing with this devastating event for years to come.

Perry Hunter is a history teacher and the former varsity boys’ basketball coach at Henryville High School. You can read his blog online at coachperryhunter.blogspot.com.