Girls Varsity Hoops Tournament Honors Educator Audra Sipple Spath, Supports Student Scholarship

Rockland Middle/High School will host a girls varsity basketball tournament later this week to raise money for the Audra Sipple Spath Scholarship, honoring a longtime Livingston Manor educator who died in 2022.

The four-team Audra Sipple Spath Scholarship Girls Varsity Basketball Tournament tips off Friday, Jan. 23, with the Sullivan West Bulldogs facing the Tri-Valley Bears at 4:30 p.m. The Rockland Wolves will take on the Fallsburg Comets in the second game at 6 p.m.

Play continues Saturday, Jan. 24, beginning with a consolation game between Friday’s losing teams at 11:30 a.m. The championship game, featuring the winners of Friday’s matchups, is scheduled for 1:15 p.m.

Pregame dedications will be held both days of the tournament. Rockland Athletic Director Christopher Hubert will offer remarks on Friday, while members of the Spath Committee will speak ahead of Saturday’s games.

The tournament honors Audra Sipple Spath, who spent years teaching elementary students in the Livingston Manor area. Following her death in 2022, a scholarship was established in her name to support a graduating, college-bound Rockland senior.

The scholarship is awarded to a student with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher who has demonstrated involvement in community service and extracurricular activities, as well as strong moral and ethical character. Preference is given to students planning to pursue a career in education.

All tournament games will be played in the new gymnasium at Rockland Middle/High School, located at 19 School Street in Livingston Manor.