The event was the sixth annual Sian Bradwell/West Island Lakers Basketball Association All-Star Weekend.

All money raised benefited the sick children at the Montreal Children's Hospital, lying in beds suffering from cancer.

"I have never seen so many people show up for an all-star weekend," said a tired-looking but satisfied WILBA president Mike Gaudin.

"And they were all buying raffle tickets. The drop-off boxes were being filled and business was brisk at the canteens, which was great because all the proceeds from the food sold this weekend went into the fund. I can say with confidence that we should break the $3,000 raised last year."

For the second consecutive year, Sharon Bradwell, a former West Island resident, was on hand to lend her support.

Bradwell, with husband Ken, started the foundation after their daughter Sian died from a rare form of cancer in 1986 at only 17 months old.

"The Montreal Children's Hospital comes up with a priority list as to where the money goes," said Bradwell.

"Most of the money will go towards buying new equipment. Sometimes, though, it's funneled towards what we call compassionate reasons. For instance, if a child loses his or her hair from the ravages of chemotherapy, the money could go towards buying him or her a wig."

Some of WILBA's finest girls' and boys' house-league players, chosen for their fine performances and good sportsmanship during the regular season's first half, took the floor.

Eight games, from pre-novice to juvenile, were played.

Sometimes, though not that often - as is often the case in all-star games - good defensive formations were attempted.

Coaches did not show any priority as far as playing time went. Clubs had to rotate their personnel every five minutes.

Those players sent out to perform for the Blues in the midget boys' game made every shot count in a fourth quarter that proved to be the difference in a 67-53 victory over the Yellows.

The Yellows stayed competitive in the game until early in the final period, trailing only by nine points.

But that was until Mitchell Goodz hit a big three-pointer to put his team up by 12 and the air was sucked out of the Yellows' sails.

"All-star games tend to be individualistic but today proved we could still incorporate the team concept," said Blues co-head coach Charles Carlisle.

"These boys have abandoned the fast-break concept they had in bantam."

Yellows co-head coach Steve Bubnich said his team simply got lazy on defence in the fourth quarter.

"Some of our kids might have also been surprised because this game was a lot quicker than a league game," he added.