DOCTORS, LAWYERS HIT THE COURT FOR CHARITY

March Madness hits Cape Girardeau tonight when doctors and lawyers square off for the annual Doctor-Lawyer Basketball Game.

Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. at the Cape Girardeau Central High School Fieldhouse. Tickets are available at the door.

Proceeds benefit the Community Counseling Center Foundation, which provides money for capital projects.

A good-natured rivalry has developed over the years. The Legal Eagles have won just once in the previous five years but hope tonight's match will lead to victory.

The Madcap Medics, on the other hand, expect a repeat of last year's 65 to 37 romp.

In addition to basketball action on the court, halftime entertainment includes the MVP Long Distance Shoot Out and performances by Academy of DanceArts.

Over the past 10 years, the Community Counseling Center Foundation has raised over $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. The building that houses the Louis E. Masterman Group Home, owned by the Community Counseling Center, is being remodeled. In addition, software upgrades are needed to bring the center's computers into Y2K compliance.

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

Playing for the Legal Eagles:

Curt "Better Rich Than" Poore, Brian "The Defender" Greaser, Ted "Top Dog" Yates, Richard "The Breeze" Whiffen, Scott "Nothin' But Net" Lipke, Matt "The Cassville Kid" Mochermann, Paul "Bunyan" Hahn, Jaime "Lay Up" Larimore, Patrick "Lefty" O'Laughlin, Scott "Grizzly Adams" Fetterhoff, Steve "Soft Hands" Juergens, Mike "Rough Cut" Deimund, Tim "Fuddy" Ruddy, Brian "Leap of Faith" Mauk, Mike "Grit and Glory" Stites and Dan "Above the Rim" Rau.

Playing for the Madcap Medics:

Connie "Sims" Simmons, Brian "Bone Crusher" Stevens, Jeff "Man Of" Steele, Greg "Pistol Pete" Leet, Scott "Curly" Smith, Ben "Great" Scott, James "Dr. J" Chapman, Rickey "Bull in a China Store" Lents, Steve "The Gas Passer" Brennan, Mike "Givin' It Up" Givens, Taylor "Weapon off the Bench" Bahn and Todd "The Unstoppable" Lumsden.