William Montgomery
The Record

CLUMS CORNERS – Phil Herrington is the Town Supervisor in Brunswick and he learned all about leadership as point guard on the 1967 Washington County League champion Tamarac High team.

The current Bengals team found their annual Christmas tournament travel budget pinched because of financial woes and Herrington wound up playing Santa Claus. He has promised to contribute whatever the team needs financially to make the trip possible.

“They usually go to a Christmas tournament up north, but they didn’t have the funds this year,” Herrington said. “The bottom line is this. I love sports and I know what it means to the kids. And as Supervisor, I know what it means to the community, too.”

Herrington in fact, was named to the school’s top 50 all-time players list in a ceremony last Friday before the Bengals tipped off against Catskill. He called head coach Eric Medved to thank him for putting together the 50th anniversary night and found out about the budget shortfall.

“They needed $1,500 but had raised $300,” Herrington recalled. “I said, I think you should have another fundraiser because it’s good for the kids to know what money is for. But whatever you need, I’ll write you a check.”

The team will host a fundraiser at Duncan’s Dairy Bar later this month to try and make up the gap. Either way, the Bengals will be playing basketball over the winter break, thanks to one of the legends of the past.

Phil Herrington, Supervisor, Town of Brunswick. (Photo courtesy www.townofbrunswick.org)

“I didn’t want the kids to think about not going,” Herrington said. “I didn’t want them to be stressed about not playing.”

Tamarac’s boys team has won two league titles in school history – 1967 and 1976. In the 2006-07 season, the Bengals stumbled to a 1-13 record in Wasaren League play, but rebounded to a 14-8 finish a season ago. With 11 seniors on this team, the 50th in school history, hopes are high that they’ll be adding another number on the otherwise blank boys basketball banner hanging in the gymnasium.

“I like sports,” Herrington said. “Basketball has always been special for me and the athletic program at Tamarac is very strong, especially with the soccer teams.
“And with no police force out here, it keeps the kids out of trouble,” he laughed.