Dave Lewis, who directed boys basketball the past seven years after serving as an assistant at Mainland, died early today after a two-year battle with cancer.

Lewis worked as an assistant to both Sam Botta and Whitey Haak at Mainland, then basically switched places with Jon Evans. He replaced Evans as head coach at Oakcrest and Evans returned to his alma mater as an assistant, eventually becoming Mainland's head coach.

Lewis guided Oakcrest into the NJSIAA Tournament each of his first six years. Only this year, when the battle with cancer limited the amount of time he could devote to the program, did the Falcons fail to qualify.

Just last week, though, he was in attendance at summer league games at Richard Stockton College.

Dave Lewis was a special man and the Cape-Atlantic League will not be the same without him. We'll have more in your next edition of the Gazette and Current.