DOCTORS BEAT LAWYERS

The Madcap Medics again took home bragging rights after trouncing the Legal Eagles 61-47 in the annual Doctor-Lawyer Basketball Game Thursday at Cape Girardeau Central High School Fieldhouse.

The two teams, made up of practicing doctors and lawyers in Cape Girardeau, square off in athletic events twice yearly to benefit local agencies. A softball game is planned later in the year to benefit the Area Wide United Way.

"We've only won it once out of the six years, but we keep beating them in softball," said Al Spradling III of his team's losing effort. "There were no injuries this year, which was probably the highlight of the game."

In the past 10 years, the Community Counseling Center Foundation has raised more than $550,000 to promote community awareness and understanding for issues related to mental health and illness. All of the money raised by the foundation is used in Southeast Missouri.

In the past, money raised has been used to buy vans to transport clients to appointments, buy furniture for residents of the Louis E. Masterman Group Home and buy computer upgrades for the Community Counseling Center.

Spradling contributed the doctors' win to at least two "ringers" who played for collegiate basketball teams. The lawyers plan to recruit newer, younger talent to help them compete next year, he said.