By Mike Buchanan

 

The eighth annual Paul Sherry Shootout took place last week at Bryn Mawr, with three high school basketball games on tap. But what happened off the court was far more importantant than what happened on it.

 

The Sherry Shootout, in honor of Paul Sherry, raised more than $15,000 for Catherine's Hearth, a local outreach center for young women and children. It brought the total of money raised in eight years to over $50,000.

 

The Collaborative Group, a local company that provides marketing services to the pharmaceutical industries, sponsored the event. “The management of the Collaborative Group has always admired the energy and enthusiasm exhibited during the life of Sherry. Throughout his life as an athlete, broadcaster, coach and executive, Paul always displayed an extraordinary degree of courage. His legacy continues through his family and many hundreds of youngsters that he coached and guided,” said Joe Twist, Founder and President.

 

Paul Sherry was a longtime leader within the Towson Recreation Council. For Paul, the gyms and playing fields at Dumbarton Middle School in Rodgers Forge were like a second home, as hel coached various sports there for twelve years. He coached both boys and girls alike to aim for excellence, as he patiently taught the fundamentals of lacrosse, basketball, soccer and baseball.

 

Sherry was born in Pasadena, California, and graduated from San Francisco State University, where he was also an amateur boxer who on two occasions fought Ray “Sugar Ray” Leonard in the national AAU championships.

 

Paul moved to Baltimore with his wife Jan in January of 1985. He was a sportscaster at WJZ-TV Channel 13, a news reporter at WMAR-TV Channel 2, a stockbroker and father of four – Theresa (current women’s lacrosse coach at Stanford), Laurie (teaching English in the Czech Republic), Val (a junior at Brown University, currently studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain) and Jack (a senior lacrosse player at Boys’ Latin).

 

The Sherry Shootout was started back in 2000 by Jim "Snuffy" Smith, who retired this year after coaching the Bryn Mawr girls basketball team for the last 10 years. Smith and Sherry coached together in AAU, from 1997 up until Paul's death in 1999.

 

“The gate turnout was down from past years due to the expected bad weather,” said Smith, who emceed the games instead of coaching from the sideline. “But due to great corporate and individual support, we were still able to raise over $15,000. In the first year, we raised $1,000, so we’ve come a long way in making it a successful event, thanks to Joe Twist and his group.”

 

Past recipients of the Sherry Shootout proceeds were:

- The Gilchrist Hospice Center

- Maryland 9/11 Survivor Victims Fund

- Rayna DuBose Assistance Fund

- The Joyce Green Van Fund

- Assistance Center of Towson Churches

- The Fisher Houses at Walter Reed Medical Center

- The Stadium School Youth Dreamers

 

This year’s recipient was Catherine’s Hearth. The mission of Catherine’s Hearth is to provide a safe and nurtring place where adults and children are supported in their work to identify goals and achieve independence. The staff helps participants to assess job training, housing, employment and educational resources. Families benefiting may be living in emergency shelters or living “doubled up” with friends or family, looking to return to regular housing.

 

Results of the three games:

 

Roland Park  53, St. Timothy’s 24 - Girls

Holton Arms 34, Bryn Mawr 27 - Girls

Gilman 64, Boys Latin 45 - Boys