Boys Hoops Wins Sportsmanship Award

The following information was submitted to Patch by a reader:

On Feb. 6, the Pottstown Chapter of the PIAA Basketball Officials held its Annual Year-End Banquet at Kimberton Golf Club. Chapter President Joe Gaffey introduced guest speaker NBA referee Steve Javie.

The Winner of the The Earl "Yogi" Strom Sportsmanship Award was also presented and went to for the second consecutive year.

The annual sportsmanship award, which started in 1995, is presented to an area school in honor of Earl "Yogi" Strom. Yogi, a 1945 graduate of Pottstown High School, was a member of the Pottstown Chapter of PIAA Officials and a high school official for nine years before moving on to the college level and then the NBA. He was elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on May 15,1995; and was considered by many to be the best official the NBA ever had.

Each year, chapter members vote for any area school which displays outstanding courtesy and sportsmanship by players, coaches, athletic directors, fans/community members. A representative from the winning school is invited to the Chapter's year end banquet where the award. A banner that can be hung in the gym is presented to the school to display for the following year.

"Winning the Yogi Strom Award is an honor for the entire basketball program, including the players, coaches, managers, trainers, and the great athletic staff that we are fortunate enough to work with on a daily basis at Spring-Ford," said head coach Mike Young. "We strive to teach or players to play to win but also play the game the right way and always demonstrate sportsmanship toward the opponent and officials. We are grateful to the Pottstown Chapter of basketball officials to be chosen for this award."