Cross-town basketball rivals came together Tuesday night to raise awareness and money for cancer research.

The boys varsity basketball teams of Fairfield's Ludlowe and Warde high schools faced off against each other. The players say they put great amounts of emotion and hard work into playing each other, but Tuesday's game was more important than one team being the victor over the other.

Both teams supported Coaches Versus Cancer, a fundraiser that aims to help fight the disease.

The fundraiser hits home for one of Warde's star players, junior Giacomo Brancato. He was recently diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and actually put off surgery in order to play.

Warde coach Ryan Swaller says Brancato, who also plays on the baseball team, is a leader to his peers, both on and off the court.

T-shirts were available for purchase at the game bearing Brancato's name and the slogan "Undefeatable" printed on them. Hundreds of shirts were printed for the game, and were sold out by the end.

The proceeds will go toward helping Brancato and his family with medical expenses.