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HASTINGS-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. John Costello sat courtside Friday night for the John Costello Holiday Basketball Tournament just a few feet away from the basketball bench he owned for more than 40 years as boys coach, athletic director and physical education teacher.
There are kids on this team whose fathers played for me, Costello said as he looked the program and team rosters for the 2011 even that bears his name. There are lots of good memories and good players. Im glad the tournament is still going on.
Costello joined players form the Edgemont and Hastings girls teams at center court prior to Fridays game for a ceremonial tip-off. The Hastings boys met a team from Lab-Museum (New York City) in the second game of the night.
Costello, who was born and raised in nearby Yonkers, joined the faculty at Hastings in 1960. He started the Holiday Tournament in 1963 and ran it successfully until his coaching retirement in 1991. During his tenure, Costello was Section 1 Coach of the Year in 1969 and 1987 and compiled a career record of 457-255, winning four Sectional 1 titles in 1969, 1975, 1980 and 1987. Costello was inducted into the Westchester Hall of Fame in 1997 and the Hastings Hall of Fame in 2002.
I still meet with some of the coaches we played like John Volpe (Gorton), Joe Flower (Roosevelt) for lunch, said Costello, who lives in Nanuet. I come and watch the tournament every year.
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