LT vs. HC Basketball 'Blackout' Is O'Laughlin Benefit

The annual Blackout boys’ basketball game at Lyons Township High School between the Lions and their cross-Interstate rivals the Hinsdale Central Red Devils on Friday will also this year serve as a show of community unity and a fundraiser for the Kelli Joy O’Laughlin Memorial Scholarship, for which the team expects to raise $15,000-$20,000.

All Lions basketball players have been working tirelessly to jack up their fundraising total, said freshman team coach Jason Brauer, with everything from T-shirt and ticket sales to a pledge drive where players collected per-basket pledges from the community before attempting 100 consecutive free throws.

“I’ve never been more proud to be a coach at LT after seeing what these boys have done to raise money and donate it,” Brauer said. “They’ve gone above and beyond… They’ve showed a lot of maturity and have taken it upon themselves to donate as much money as they can.”

In addition, dozens of local and Chicagoland businesses have gotten on board, donating sports memorabilia and other prizes for a massive raffle to be held throughout the game. Former Chicago Bulls announcer Ray Clay will be on-hand to call the action, and in the headliner event, three attendees will have a chance to shoot a half-court shot to win a new 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer from Continental Mitsubishi of Countryside.

O’Laughlin was 14 and a Lyons Township freshman when she was stabbed to death in her Indian Head Park home on Oct. 27, 2011, apparently after interrupting a home burglary. Parolee John L. Wilson is facing first-degree felony murder charges in the slaying, which police have described as exceptionally cruel and monstrous.

A memorial scholarship has been set up in O’Laughlin’s memory, and continues to garner thousands of dollars in donations.

Businesses who have donated prizes or pledges include the First National Bank of La Grange, AthletiCo, the Bulls and Blackhawks, Palmers Place, Concierge Preferred magazine, USA Soccer and Bannerville USA. Prizes also include football tickets to Notre Dame vs. Pittsburgh, Chicago Architectural Tour tickets and LT spirit-wear.

The annual Blackout game was founded a few years ago as a reaction to a Hinsdale Central “whiteout” stunt where the entire Red Devils student section wore white; the Lions responded with the reverse. Fans and students wear all-black, oft-branded T-shirts. The Lions basketball team is 3-0 in Blackout games so far.

“It’s taken off into a really, really special game,” said Brauer. “It draws big crowds; it’s something that the players always remember, playing at a Blackout game.”

In a show of support and good sportsmanship, the Red Devils team will also be wearing fundraiser T-shirts.

All games will be held Friday afternoon and evening at the Lyons Township High School North Campus gym. Freshman teams play at 4:00 p.m., sophomores at 5:30 p.m. and varsity at 7:00 p.m.