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Doggone good: Shields leads Team Hope to victory
Former Kent State standout earns MVP honors in annual Game of Hope
By Greg Gulas
Youngstown
As the very first female K-9 officer in the Youngstown Police Department, Jess Shields takes pride in the daily interaction and association she has with her dog, Hector.
The former Kent State University basketball star can now add another first to her long list of accomplishments after becoming the first female “Most Valuable Player” of the Hope Foundation of the Mahoning Valley Basketball Classic.
Shields, a center, who once scored 37 points for the Golden Flashes in a game against the University of Toledo, hauled in five rebounds and pumped in 12 points, including the game-tying triple with 11 seconds left to force overtime as she led Team Hope to a 46-44 win over Team Kings in sudden death Sunday at YSU’s Beeghly Center.
“I love to serve; that’s my life and today was just a lot of fun for an especially great cause,’ Shields said. “I play every Monday night in a police basketball league and wanted to get back on the court. It’s really fun to play once again in a college setting and one as nice as YSU’s Beeghly Center.”
The Hope Foundation of the Mahoning Valley raises funds for terminally and chronically ill children and is the brainchild of Tony Spano, a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity during his YSU undergraduate days.
They’ve now been able to raise over $300,000 in money and donated services over the past decade and on Sunday, the organization was also presented with a $5,000 donation by the Gibson Insurance Agency for receiving the most votes for their fundraising efforts last year on the company’s Facebook page.
“This was a very successful day for us with over 1,000 in attendance. All proceeds are earmarked for terminally and chronically ill children and I cannot thank the Gibson Insurance Agency enough for their generosity and support,” Spano said.
John Gocala, a detective with the Boardman Police Department, is a two-time participant, MVP of the 2011 game and coach of the winning Team Hope squad.
A cancer survivor, he remains passionate about the Hope Foundation’s efforts.
“There are so many components that have to come together in order for a game like this work and go off without a hitch,” Gocala stated. “The cause is the reason that we keep coming back and the players all enjoy taking part, knowing full well that they are making a difference.”
Team Hope raced to a 16-14 halftime advantage behind five points from Orlando Jordan. A native of Panama City, Jordan earned four letters while playing collegiately at Briar Cliff University (1992-96) in Sioux City, Iowa.
Jordan, who serves as player services manager for Penn National Gaming, finished with 12 points, including the game-winning bucket on the third possession of sudden death for Team Hope.
Canfield boys head basketball coach Todd Muckleroy, who had six points in the second half for Team Kings, was nominated to play by the Canfield Education Association.
“Having been a part of the Mahoning Valley the past five years, I’ve had the opportunity to meet many great individuals that comprise my coaching fraternity,” Muckleroy said. “Today, I had an opportunity to take part in an excellent cause and got to meet so many other great people from all walks of life who are also doing great things for our community.”
Former Lowellville High School and YSU star Lisa [Rotunno] Modelski, hit three buckets from beyond the arc late in the second half and finished with 14 points for Team Kings.