• Haslett Varsity Girls Basketball Head Coach Ross Baker

HASLETT - Both the boys and girls basketball from Haslett and St. Johns faced off last Friday, but there was another battle going on. The battle against cancer.

While basketball was being played in the gym, money was being raised just outside the doors for the fight against cancer. As part of the national effort by the American Cancer Society, Haslett High School was hosting their own Coaches vs. Cancer game.

Mark Cotter, one of organizers of the event said that he was happy with the turnout. "We certainly appreciate everybody who decided I'm going to take some of my hard earned money and I'm gonna fight cancer," he said.

Culver's restaurant was also their to help sponsor the event.

For Ross Baker, Head Coach for Haslett Varsity Girls Basketball, this really hits home. Coach Baker is a survivor of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

"He's a fighter," said Cotter, "He really sets a great example for not only his team but the rest of us in the community."

Lime-green colored t-shirts were being sold that said "full court press against cancer." The color scheme was chosen because lime-green represents the battle against lymphoma, just like pink represents the battle against breast cancer.

While the fans in the stands were sporting their shirts, Haslett players were sporting special purple jerseys with the names of loved ones who have been affected by cancer on the back.

Cotter pointed out that Haslett would usually be were their white home jerseys but St. Johns was very cooperative with the change.

A Coaches vs. Cancer game is something that Cotter is hoping can happen every year.