Through their support of the CASA Games, local businesses are joining the effort to inform Manhasset's youth about the danger of substance abuse. The CASA Games is an evening of basketball fun for the whole family on Friday, March 8, at Manhasset High School. The evening will include a student/faculty basketball game with players from Manhasset and St. Mary's High Schools. The 8 p.m. game will be preceded at 6 p.m. by "Just Say Hoops!" - a tournament of fast-paced, three-on-three play featuring dozens of teams in grades four through 12.

Colorful T-shirts, designed by Burger Design and contributed by American Mortgage Group, Jefferson International Automotive Center, Molise Construction and Nancy H. Morris Insurance Agency, will be given to all "Just say Hoops!" participants and student/faculty basketball players. Admission tickets and Just Say Hoops registration forms are available at Nancy H. Morris Insurance Agency, 22 Bayview Avenue and Phil's Manhasset Sports Shop, 111 Plandome Road.

Entertainment for younger children, including a magician, face painting, visits from Bob the Builder and Chuckie from Rugrats, and a popcorn machine, is being donated by Fairytale Productions, Manhasset Deli, Redhook Distributors, Dunkin' Donuts and Häagen Dazs Ice Cream Shoppe of Great Neck are contributing refreshments that will be sold to raise funds for CASA's substance abuse prevention work. Digital Printing Innovations is donating printing. Those who wish to donate goods and services should contact committee chair Sheri Schott, 365-9641.

Any Manhasset resident attending middle or high school who purchases an advance ticket to the CASA Games will be eligible to compete in a half-time basketball competition for prizes, including a big screen TV. (Competitors must be present to play.) There will also be raffles, a silent auction, free T-shirts for players and trophies for all Just Say Hoopsters.

General admission is $5 for adults, and $3 for ages 5 to 19. Participants in "Just Say Hoops!" pay an additional $12 each and receive a free T-shirt and trophy. "Just Say Hoops!" players must register together in three-person teams and all members of a team must be in the same grade and of the same gender.

The CASA games benefit the Manhasset Community Coalition Against Substance Abuse (CASA), a non-profit partnership formed to help parents, schools and the community combat underage drinking and substance abuse.