Times Observer Photo by Cody Elms Maria Palmieri of the faculty team is stopped by Logan DeVault, left, and Mason Richards, right, during the eighth annual Basketball Extravaganza at Sheffield High School’s Ralph J. Santo Gymnasium on Thursday.

SHEFFIELD — The Sheffield Elementary School student all-star team was able to hold off a faculty team comeback, winning 52-42 Thursday night inside Ralph J. Santo Gymnasium, during the 8th annual Basketball Extravaganza.

Students from third to fifth grade made up the all-star team, while Sheffield faculty and some high school students took to the court as the opposition. All proceeds from the event will go toward purchasing yearbooks for every elementary student as well as end-of-year expenses.

The organizer of the event, Kristine Conn who played basketball in both high school and college, started the event in 2015 alongside Marsha Madigan, only skipping 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions. For the high school students participating, it was a return to where it all began.

“Oh, my gosh, they love it,” said Conn. “The kids that played tonight were the first group that went through and did this with me when I first started in 2015. They’re seniors this year. So, we tried to get them in the game tonight. They were playing left-handed, behind the 3-point line, they love to play.”

According to Conn, the students were, “talking smack,” all week long and they didn’t disappoint, holding multiple double-digit leads and earning bragging rights for another year.

“We love doing it,” said Conn. “It’s fun. It brings the community together.”

Prior to the start of the anticipated matchup, more than 25 students participated in a hoop shoot with Olivia Cressley coming in second and Dane Richards taking the top spot.