The battle with cancer that Pioneer High School girls basketball coach Crystal Westfield hoped she had won during the 2007-08 season is being fought again.

The Pioneer program used last week’s high-profile game against visiting Huron as a fundraiser for Leiomyosarcoma research in honor of their coach. Players wore special T-shirts during warm-ups while volunteers sold the same shirt and collected donations.

In February 2009, the Ann Arbor News profiled Westfield and how she weaved radiation treatments and surgeries into the basketball season after being diagnosed with the cancer that attacks the cells of involuntary muscles.

Thought to be in remission - although oncologists wouldn’t officially use that term until the cancer stayed away for five years - the cancer spread to her scalp this year and she’s gone through two more surgeries to remove it.

Leiomyosarcoma is already a rare form of cancer, but doctors told Westfield she’s one of just four known cases in which the cancer has spread to a patient’s skin.

SKYLINE GIRLS RAISE FUNDS, TOO

The Skyline girls basketball program donated $913 to the American Cancer Society before its game against Ferndale University on Tuesday.

Both the freshmen and junior varsity teams shot 25 free throws during a recent practice, collecting a funds (ranging from 10 cents to $5) for every one made after receiving pledges over the holiday break.

“Prior to participating in this, both teams had a discussion about cancer, and whose lives have been affected by cancer,” said Skyline coach Kristy Bilbie-Bekius. “Needless to say, every hand went up in the room. It seems like all of us have been affected by cancer, so this was an easy decision to participate in this fund raiser.”

SHAKE IT UP The Star Spangled Banner, depending on the rendition, can last anywhere from two to four minutes. That’s not a long time to honor your country, but it can be a long time to hold someone over your head.

The Ypsilanti High School cheerleaders looked to be having that problem before Tuesday night’s game against Saline. But looks can be deceiving.

It appeared the strenuous salute had gotten to Chipo Chavanduka, Kortni Mallory and Shate’ja Curry as they began shaking - with LaRrissa Carltoa, the team’s “flyer,” held high above them - as the song drew near its conclusion. Carltoa’s demotion to team “faller” seemed imminent.

Apparently, the situation was more under control than it appeared.

“(Carltoa’s) leg was just shaking,” Curry said. “It started to spasm, that’s why it looked like we were shaking, but we were alright.”

Carltoa confirmed that her leg began involuntarily moving, and she has no idea why. “Only one of them was doing it, but it just started going and I couldn’t stop it,” she said.

So, were the girls’ arms feeling taxed after not only holding their teammate above their heads, but having to adjust to her muscle spasms?

“Nah, we do pushups,” Mallory said with arms flexed. “We were alright.”

INTRODUCE YOURSELF The Huron boys team takes its act on the road this weekend for a pair of games in the western suburbs of Chicago. The first stop is Aurora, Ill., for a game against Waubonsie Valley (5-13) on Friday night, followed by a short trip north for a matinee game at St. Charles North (12-9) on Saturday.

The River Rats will have to be sure to introduce themselves to local media before the games. The website for the Daily Herald, suburban Chicago’s largest newspaper, lists Waubonsie Valley as playing “TBD” on Friday and St. Charles North facing “Herrin” on Saturday.

SHOT FROM GLAZIER WAY “From downtown” is a commonly-used expression to describe a long range 3-pointer. For Brian Martin, who announces home games for Huron’s basketball teams, the axiom wasn’t quite specific enough.

During a recent game, the River Rats girls team hit shots from Glazier Way, Plymouth Road, Textile … and all the way from Golfside.

There is method to Martin’s version of the 3-point call.

“I know a lot of the girls and the neighborhoods they grew up in, so if they hit one I try to name a street around where they’re from,” Martin said.

Compiled by Rich Rezler and Pete Cunningham. You can reach the AnnArbor.com prep staff by calling 734-623-2565 or emailing prepsports@annarbor.com.