Time to make more memories

It's an annual reunion at Ridgewood.

Every last week of December, the boys basketball team hosts the now 23rd annual William G. Hulton Jr. Port Richey Rotary Ram Classic, with friends, family, former players and alum returning to Anders Court for not only games that, this year, include teams such as Anclote, Brandon, Bradenton Southeast, Clearwater, East Lake, Lakeland Jenkins and St. Pete Catholic, but also the memories.

"Every year, I sit in the stands and catch up with friends and have a few laughs, then turn around to see them sitting there cheering us on," said Rams coach Mike Bua, who, in his second year as head coach, again heads up the Classic as a former, long-time assistant and student. "It always feels like a reunion because even the kids who are in college are on break, so they come back, and it's a lot of friends and family in the stands. This is probably the biggest tournament in Pasco County."

Ridgewood (6-5) begins the three-day tourney today with games each day at 2, 3:45, 5:30 and 7:15 p.m. and the championship game Friday at 7:15 p.m. Admission is $5 per day, yet Bua says team attendance has dwindled a bit, as out-of-state teams, even as far as New York City, used to make the trek. The economy, like anything else, hit the tourney.

"We've had teams from Georgia and South Carolina, too, but we don't have teams fly in anymore," said Bua, who was an assistant for six years before taking over for local legendary coach Gary Anders, who retired before last season. "We still get teams that travel a good distance and need a hotel, but don't need a plane to get here."

"Gary did such a great job all those years," Bua added, "and hosting always made our teams more competitive, made us better by looking forward to playing these teams coming in and defending our court. It's really a lot of fun for anyone who comes."

And the classic holds a dear place in Bua's heart, while playing coordinator and host. The tourney is named after Hulton, a former longtime assistant principal, who died in 1999 of a sudden heart attack.

"I was a student when he died and knew him well, our families were friends, so, just like most people here at Ridgewood, we were close," Bua said. "This tournament is very special to me. It's an honor for me to run it now, and I want to make sure it's done right. Following after Gary and doing this for Hulton just means a lot to me and to everyone."