The award, announced Monday, Feb. 17, will be presented to the team during halftime of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Section I Class AA championship final basketball game (noon tip-off) at the Westchester County Center in White Plains on Sunday, March 2.

The Clark Academy is part of the St. Christopher's School in Dobbs Ferry.

In 2002, the IAABO County Board 52 decided to create a sportsmanship award in honor of Dennis Hurlie, who is a former president of the board, a dedicated member for more than 37 years and a familiar presence at the Westchester County Center while officiating Section I tournament games. 

"Hurlie exemplified the ideals of the association by promoting the respect for the game, maintaining the highest standards of basketball officiating and, most importantly, encouraging the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship," IAABO spokesman Gerard Byrne said in a press release.

The award goes to a high school boys varsity basketball team and head coach in Westchester County that has demonstrated hard work, fair play, cohesiveness, team spirit, and sportsmanship. 

"I have never been more proud of a group of young men then this years team," Gaines said. "The team's philosophy is to focus on being positive individuals on and off the court. I instilled being role models as students in school and displaying good character and sportsmanship on the court win or lose."

Gaines said the team bought into the school motto of  "Keeping your A.C.T. Together." A.C.T. being Achievement-Conduct-Teamwork.

"They accepted the philosophy of doing things the right way regardless of the outcome," Gaines said. "They never gave up on wanting to improve as student and athletes.Being honored  with the Dennis Hurlie Award is an accomplishment not only for the Clark Academy program, but for all Special Acts Schools in Section 1. This award validates the hard work, commitment the students and my assistant coaches have done to make this a successful season, regardless of our overall record.

The following are members of the boys basketball team: Tyreke Singleton (freshman), Antonio Lowden (freshman), Rahmel Lowden (sophomore), Joshua Lewter (sophomore), Guillermo Smith (senior), Calvin Walters (senior), Kenyon George (freshman), Andre Carthorn (sophomore), Luis Castorie (sophomore), Shane McCalla (sophomore), Clayvon Buckner (senior),  Eric Monroe-Allen (sophomore), Tayshawn Cunningham (sophomore).

Head coach - Anthony Gaines; assistant coaches - Monroe Anderson, Nick Federice and Tristan Tatmom.

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