Greensboro's African American Community Newspaper since 1967
The 48th annual HAECO Basketball Invitational returned to Novant Health Fieldhouse and at the Greensboro Coliseum Special Event Center Dec. 19-21. Basketball action was sponsored by the Greensboro Sports Council.
In the women’s final, No. 1 seed Bishop McGuinness (7-0) defeated No. 2 seed Greensboro Day (12-5) 61- 48. In the men’s final, No. 1 Greensboro Day (16-2) outlasted No. 2 Smith (8-1) 56 – 42. Other participating high schools in the invitational were: Dudley, Grimsley Page, Ragsdale, Smith and Southeast Guilford.
Tournament proceeds are donated to charity and the participating schools. Last year, the tournament donated $7,500 in tournament tickets to each participating school for a total of $60,000.
Honorary chairman of the HAECO Invitational was Mike Haley. He is a Greensboro Sports Council past president and a major supporter of sports in Greensboro as well as the Greensboro Complex.
The Bill Lee Scholarship was also awarded to four HAECO Invitational participants. Since its inception in 2001, 97 high school seniors have been awarded this scholarship which was established in memory of Bill Lee, a Greensboro native and resident who was a major supporter of local sports. He was deeply involved with Greensboro’s minor league baseball efforts, basketball and golf. The Greensboro Sports Council established the scholarship following Lee’s death in 2001. Recipients are nominated by their schools, and the Greensboro Sports Council awards the scholarships. Each year, four student-athletes receive a $2,000 scholarship. This year’s winners are Josiah Beatty (Ragsdale), Addison Newkirk (Greensboro Day), Sophia Stevens (Southeast Guilford) and Candace Williams (Greensboro Day).
This year, outgoing HAECO Invitational chair James Gentry selected Operation Helo in support of their Western North Carolina hurricane relief efforts. Operation Helo, a 501(c)3 charitable organization located in Maiden, N.C., began its hurricane relief efforts flying helicopters full of essential supplies to communities unreachable by road due to Helene damage. Now, they are delivering fully-stocked campers to those who were displaced by the hurricane. To date, more than 60 families are living in campers donated by Operation Helo.
Past tournament proceeds have been contributed to Out of the Garden Project, Backpack Beginnings, Greensboro Urban Ministries, Friends for an Earlier Breast Cancer Test, the American Cancer Society’s Coaches vs. Cancer, the Bryan Family YMCA, the Children’s Home Society, the Eastern Guilford High School Fund, the Joey Cheek Fund, North Carolina State Games, the Greensboro Aquatic Center’s ‘Learn to Swim’ program, The First Tee of the Triad, the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club, Ready for School, Ready for Life, Youth Focus, the Kellin Foundation and Hands for Hearts.
HAECO Women’s All-Tournament Team
Shyla Simms, Grimsley
Candice Williams, Greensboro Day
Liz Wyrick, Greensboro Day
Claire Sullivan, Bishop McGuinness
Jenna Moore, Bishop McGuinness
MVP – Adelaide Jernigan, Bishop McGuinness
HAECO Men’s All-Tournament Team
CJ Jones, Dudley
Jyi Dawkins, Smith
Kady’n Turner-Scott, Smith
Marty Giant, Greensboro Day
Micah Gunter, Greensboro Day
MVP Addison Newkirk, Greensboro Day
