IE fire departments plan charity tournament

Hoops for Hope basketball tournament is once again making its returned to the Inland Empire.

The Ontario Professional Firefighters(Local 1430) and Rancho Cucamonga Professional Firefighters(Local 2274) will be participating in the second annual Hoops for Hope basketball tournament at Los Oso High School on March 12.

Hoops for Hope is a basketball tournament with a five team format comprised of all of the West End fire agencies, playing in a single elimination.

Participants will include teams from Montclair Firefighters, Upland Firefighters, Chino Valley Independent Firefighters, Rancho Cucamonga Firefighters and Ontario Firefighters.

Hoops for Hope is a concept dreamed by Coach Dave Smith, Los Oso boys basketball coach, and Richard "Chip" Smith, battalion chief for Ontario Fire Department. Both were undergoing intense treatment for stage 4 colorectal cancer, said Ontario Battalion Chief Jim Schiller in an e-mail.

"Both Dave and Chip dreamed of a series of basketball games to raise awareness and funds for cancer research and education," he said. "Unfortunately, Chip lost his battle on the very night of last year's tournament."

Schiller is asking the public to come and support Dave Smith and "help us to continue he and Chip's dream of Hoops for Hope and raise awareness and funds in the fight against cancer."

Proceeds will be given to San Antonio Community Hospital' Cancer Education Center and City of Hope.

The tournament will be played at Los Oso High School located at 6001 Miliken Ave in Rancho Cucamonga. The first game will be at noon.

Additional information can be found at the web site HoopsforHope.info or call Deputy Chief Mark Hartwig of the Rancho Cucamonga Fire Department at 909-477-2770, or Battalion Chief Jim Schiller from the Ontario fire Department at 760-954-8635.