Sunday, November 15, 2026
MIA teachers, coaches and staff, Loria Galiana, Kelly Monnot, David Horn and Deneen Rose took part.
Deneen Rose, MIA staff member takes the ball, literally, into her own hands and runs down the court to take a shot.
Marco Island Academy Principal Melissa Scott casts a wary eye as she blows her whistle for a foul. She made up the rules as she went along in the basketball fundraising. The event raised nearly $600 for Golisano Children’s Hospital and the school’s junior and senior proms. Photos by roger lalonde
By Roger LaLonde
Boys and girls together on basketball teams – Half court shot 10 points – Principal hard-nosed referee – All for charity.
The Marco Island Academy faculty, staff and students teamed up for a charity basketball game on Feb. 26 in support of Golisano Children’s Hospital and its junior and senior prom events. The game, at the Marco Island Charter Middle School, raised nearly $600.
Faculty member David Horn organized the event. He runs a mentoring group for students, as each of the teachers at MIA have their own mentoring groups (kind of like homeroom). He tossed out an idea of a fund-raising basketball game, and it was well received.
Principal Melissa
Scott donned her referee outfit, blowing her whistle for little or no reason.
The Black and Silver team won in the finals over the Blue and Black team.
The Blue and Black team included Cole Stretton, Colin McMullin, Omar Rodriguez, Bon Deese, along with faculty and staff members, Lori Galiana, Deneen Rose and Maria Hayden.
Members of the Black and Silver included Preston Reese, Haley Havemier, Gianna Rose, Andrew Fowler, Will Carlisle, Vinny Moller and teacher Chris Liebhart.
Making up the White, “Celtics”, team were Peter Servente, Isaiah Urguidez, Austin Estremera, Victoria Vale, Patrick Michel and teacher Kirby Rients.
Rients and son Grayson also served as game commentators.
The Pink “Hustlers” team included Brandon Estremera,
Brian Flynn, Tyler Gresham, Kyle Ginther, Jessica Ragan and staff Kelly Monnot and Horn.
The games included a 10-point bonus for making a half-court shot. Cole Stretton made two in his team’s first-game win over Peter Servente’s “Celtics” team. Servente also made a half-court shot.
As the games went on the half-court attempts became a focal point, but many more were missed than made.
Mom Deneen Rose met her match trying to guard her daughter Gianna. Laughter followed a play where Deneen just picked up the ball and ran half the court, but missed the shot. Bon Deese put on a show if he made a basket and Preston Reese showed his leaping skills with two dunks.
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