No one had the slightest doubt that Eli Mollineaux was smiling as he looked down to watch last Friday night’s basketball game that played out before a crowd of 1,000 in Louis D. Giani Gymnasium.
The Woodhull Intermediate School team bolted out to an early lead and headed into halftime with a 19-15 advantage. That lead steadily grew as Woodhull went on to notch a 44-34 victory in the annual Eli’s March Madness contest.
The bleachers in Louis D. Giani Gymnasium were packed for the game.
One of the community’s most cherished sons, Mr. Mollineaux lost a courageous battle with Pearson Syndrome, a rare mitochondrial disease during his sophomore year in October 2016. His long association with the annual basketball game led to it being named in his honor. Proceeds from the game are dedicated to the Eli Mollineaux Scholarship Fund.
As Huntington Superintendent James W. Polansky looked on, the two teams of faculty and staff members battled it out. Woodhull Principal Traci Roethel and her high school counterpart Brenden Cusack both played in the game along with an assortment of colorful personalities and athletic talents.
“It was a terrific night for the Huntington High School and Woodhull contingent,” Mr. Polansky said. “It was a spirited contest that truly captured the essence of its namesake Eli Mollineaux. Eli’s passion, strength, courage and love of Huntington remain alive and well in all of us.
The high school’s Ready Step team performed at halftime. Fans snapped up hundreds of raffle chances and also purchased refreshments and snacks to aid the fundraising efforts. PTA members worked tirelessly to help make the evening an overall success.
“What a great night,” Woodhull teacher Jason Suarez said. “To see the amount of people who came out to support this amazing event really shows the strength of our community. As far as the game goes, it’s secondary to what matters most; Eli. Can’t help to think that our little friend was somewhere in that gym cheering everyone on!”
