Basketball fans can help the Altobelli family Friday night at Beckman vs. Woodbridge game

Fans look on during last week’s Beckman vs. Portola game. (Photo: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone)

Fans at the Beckman vs Irvine Pacific Coast League boys basketball game will be able to make donations to the fund helping the Altobelli family, according to Beckman Coach John Goins.

Sissy Oberlin, athletic secretary at Beckman, is the sister of former Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, who was killed in a helicopter crash along with eight others Sunday.

“We are giving free admission to the game to get as many students and their families to come as possible in support of the Altobelli family,” Goins said. “There will be the ability to donate to their fund at the game, which is also our senior night for boys basketball.

“This will not be a memorial event, but instead a showing of support for those who we lost in this week’s tragic accident. This is also our senior night so it’ll be great to have so many coming out to not only support the Altobelli family but also our graduating seniors.”

The idea was suggested by Athletic Director Steve Fischel.

“This was a no-brainer,” Fischel said. “We wanted to do something special to support Sissy, who’s not only a valuable member to the athletic department, but does a tremendous amount for our school.

“In addition, we’re extremely appreciative of her brother John Altobelli, who coached and mentored a number of our baseball players at OCC.”

Beckman enters the game 13-12 overall and 5-2 in PCL play, one game behind league-leading Portola which plays at Northwood Friday night.T

The girls game will be at 5:30 p.m. with the boys game following. It’s scheduled for approximately 7 p.m.

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com