It’s been said many times: The Scotty Wood Tournament is about so much more than basketball. And while the basketball was great – the Muhlenberg teams swept the championship games for the second year in a row – here are some of the other things that took place on the court, which contribute to Scotty Wood being a notable annual event for the entire Muhlenberg campus and the community at large.
Former men’s basketball coach Dave Madeira (pictured with Dean of Students Karen Green) received the Scotty Wood Tournament Community Service Award. It was the first time back at Muhlenberg for Madeira since he retired and moved to Charlotte to be closer to his grandchildren following the 2008-09 season. In 22 seasons as head coach, he won 311 games – more than any other coach in Muhlenberg athletic history.
At halftime of the Muhlenberg women’s game on Friday, five Mule student-athletes were presented with their plaques for earning Capital One Academic All-America recognition last year. The five Academic All-Americans were the most in a school year in College history. Pictured below, left to right, are Ashley Brewer ’11, Spencer Liddic, Brittany DeAngelis, Michael Baer and the parents of Bobby Torphy ’11, Bob and Marg Torphy.
Balls went back and forth down the court throughout the tournament, with the winning team scoring at least 90 points in four of the eight games. But there was also a ceremonial exchange of balls.
The Wood Family donated to Muhlenberg a ball used in a game between Muhlenberg and Long Island University played at Madison Square Garden in March 1949. Below, Jonathan Sheftel, grandson of Scotty Wood and nephew of Bob Wood, does the honors in a ceremonial jump ball between Leeann Lanza of Muhlenberg and Liz West of TCNJ prior to the women’s championship game. Lanza won the ceremonial toss, but West won the one that counted a few minutes later.
The Scotty Wood Tournament marketing management class, in turn, donated a ball signed by members of both teams to the Wood Family in recognition of their years of support of Muhlenberg basketball. Below, class member Peter Rice presents the ball to Judy Sheftel, daughter of Scotty Wood, Ilene Wood, widow of Bob Wood, and Pat Beldon, daughter of Scotty Wood.
photos by Lisa Youngentob