The basketball season has been over for a while but it’s certainly not too late to applaud the efforts of two high school teams for truly understanding that at times it is better to give than receive. Once again this winter the Toms River Basketball Association provided a Challenger Division Clinic on Sundays at the Silver Bay Elementary School for a small group of designated special education students.

The program was a big success in large part due to the volunteer efforts of girls from the Toms River North “Lady Mariners” and boys from the Donovan Catholic “Griffins” who gave up part of their Sundays to help coach these youngsters.

Working with parents as well the high school players helped run these clinics which offer these special youngsters the support, direction, and flexibility they require. Under the direction of Victor Suskevich and Joe Garvey the Challenger Division has been in existence for 11 years and is an important part of the TRBA.

TR North head coach Vicki Gillen and Donovan Catholic’s Michael Kearney deserve credit for encouraging their student-athletes to take part in this program which hopefully will continue for years to come.

For more information on the TRBA visit www.tomsriverbasketball.com.

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