Business & Tech

Basketball Tournament Benefits Scholarship Funds

Jewish Community Center event will raise money in honor of the late Larry Cubas.

For the third year in a row, the Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center on Talamini Road, will hold its Memorial Basketball Tournament Sunday to add money to a memorial endowment fund set up in memory of former JCC regular Larry Cubas.

"Larry had been a member of the men's basketball league at the community center for many years," said Ken Kaus, sports director and after-school program director for the JCC. "He was a part since its inception when the facility opened. He loved the sport."

The fund was set up in memory of Cubas after he died in 2008, and it provides financial assistance to high school students in Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren counties as they head off to college.

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"There is a very positive response to the scholarship," Kaus said.

Kaus said Cubas collapsed during halftime of a basketball game at the JCC in February 2008.

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"He died a short time after he arrived at the hospital," Kaus said. "I'm not sure of the medical term, but it had something to do with his heart."

In his memory, the JCC created the scholarship fund.

To earn the money for the fund, the JCC sponsors a basketball tournament each year, with competitions including a men's open, women's open and men's over-35 division.

In addition, the tournament holds a 3-point shooting contest at the beginning of the tournament.

Each team plays at least three games and each member receives a game jersey. At the end, division winners have their names listed on a championship plaque placed on the JCC's Wall of Champions, as well as other prizes.

"The first two years of the event, we had approximately 80 players each year," Kaus said. "At this moment, we have 65 players registered. We have men and women ages 18 and older."

Kaus said official registration for the event ended Monday, but anyone is welcome to attend and watch the tournament itself.

As for the scholarship, Kaus said it was set up by the members of the JCC basketball league because Cubas loved the sport and coached there. His daughters, Kaus said, also played basketball, and they have shared the responsibility of presenting the scholarships over the past two years.

"We've awarded four scholarships in the past two years," Kaus said, adding that there are two given out per year. "They are for $1,000 each."

In 2009, scholarships were awarded to Ryan McDermott and Phillip Grayeski, both of Bridgewater.

The scholarships are given to high school seniors who are planning to attend accredited colleges the following year. One is given to a JCC member or staff member and the second is given to any student who has played basketball for his or her high school in any town in one of the three counties at any time during the four years.

Eligibility for the scholarship is also based on having demonstrated commitment to the community through work or involvement in activities outside of sports.

Those looking to qualify must complete an application, and the scholarships are awarded in June.

As the JCC prepares for its upcoming third annual tournament, Kaus acknowledged that the event is about two things—a good time and helping a good cause.

"It is the opportunity to raise money for our scholarship fund, while having fun," he said.

Check-in for the event will begin at 8 a.m., and the tournament will start at 9 a.m., lasting until the final game ends.

For more information, contact Kaus at 908-725-6994, ext. 227, or e-mail him at Kkaus@ssbjcc.org.


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