2018 HAECO Invitational Seeds, Pairings, Brackets and Pre-Tournament Notes(Excellent Links to the Brackets)

**********43rd Annual HAECO Invitational Pre-Tournament Notes Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center; December 26-28, 2018**********
2018 Women’s Seeds
1)Northwest Guilford
2)Ragsdale High School
3)Northern Guilford
4)Dudley High School
5)Greensboro Day School
6)Page High School
7)Grimsley High School
8)Smith High School

2018 Men’s Seeds
1)Greensboro Day School
2)Northwest Guilford
3)Smith High School
4)Page High School
5)Dudley High School
6)Ragsdale High School
7)Grimsley High School
8)Northern Guilford

See brackets when you CLICK HERE
**********The above Click, will take you directly to the men’s and women’s brackets….**********

Games Day One:
Women:
#1 Northwest Guilford vs. #8 Smith 3pm on Court 1
#4 Dudley vs. #5 Greensboro Day School 4:30pm Court 1
#2 Ragsdale vs. #7 Grimsley 5:30pm Court 2
#3 Northern Guilford vs. #6 Page 7pm Court 2

Men:
#2 Northwest Guilford vs. #7 Grimsley 2:30pm Court 2
#3 Smith vs. #6 Ragsdale 4pm Court 2
#1 Greensboro Day School vs. #8 Northern Guilford 6pm Court 1
#4 Page vs. #5 Dudley 7:30pm Court 1

HAECO Invitational Pairings: Due to inclement weather, the Dec. 11 HAECO Invitational Pairings Lunch was cancelled, and pairings are being announced today. Once again, the defending champions will attempt to hold serve as this year’s top seeds. The four-time defending women’s champions, the Northwest Guilford Lady Vikings return as the top seed and will meet the eighth-seeded Smith Golden Eagles. Greensboro Day School returns as the No. 1 seed and the seven-time defending champion. The Bengals open with a first-round matchup with the Northern Guilford Nighthawks. The complete first-round pairings and tournament brackets are available at www.HAECOInvitational.com; click on live updates.

Opening-Round Court Assignments: New this year, both top seeds will play their opening-round games on court No. 1. The top half of both the men’s and women’s brackets will open play on court No. 1 with the bottom half of both brackets opening play on court No. 2.
2018 Women’s Seeds (Please see brackets below):

HAECO Americas and Aviation Careers: As part of its effort to expose Piedmont Triad high school students to their industry and encourage them to discover the available opportunities in the aviation and aerospace fields, HAECO Americas staff will be onsite throughout the HAECO Invitational to talk with students and their parents who want to learn more about HAECO Americas and the aviation industry at large. The HAECO display will be located in the alcove between the concessions stand and the exit at the south end of court No. 1 – not sure where that is? Just look for the aircraft seats.

Championship Game Teams Celebrate at HAECO: For the last several years, HAECO Invitational championship teams have been invited to HAECO Americas for a championship celebration and tour of the facility. In 2017, in an effort to expose more tournament participants to its facility, HAECO expanded this event to also include the tournament runner-up teams. The four teams participating in the HAECO Invitational championship games will be invited to the celebration on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019 at HAECO Americas at Piedmont Triad International Airport. Winning teams in the four semifinal games will receive additional information after their semifinal victories

Contributions to the Schools: Many things make the HAECO Invitational exceptional, but what makes it unique is that tournament proceeds are donated to charity and the participating schools. Last year, the eight participating schools each received $12,500 meaning the tournament donated $100,000 to the schools. In recent years, the Greensboro Sports Council made the following donations to the HAECO Invitational participating schools: 2008: $96,000, 2009: $80,000, 2010: $86,000, 2011: $100,000, 2012: $108,000, 2013: $112,000, 2014: $112,000, 2015: $112,000, 2016: $100,000, 2017: $100,000.

Charity: In addition to making its donations to the participating schools, the HAECO Invitational makes charitable contributions. This year, outgoing HAECO Invitational chair Chris Lowe selected Youth Focus for the tournament’s charitable donation. A powerful collaboration of medical professionals, therapists, administrators, and volunteers, Youth Focus offers substance abuse counseling, foster care, young women’s housing, counseling, emergency housing, school and educational groups, some covered by insurance or Medicaid and others available free of charge. For more information, please visit www.youthfocus.org.

Past tournament proceeds have been contributed to 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 and the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club.

Follow the HAECO: The HAECO Invitational is on social media – follow the HAECO on Twitter: @HAECOInvit and on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/HAECOInvitational.

Bill Lee Scholarship: The Bill Lee Scholarship is awarded to four HAECO Invitational participants each year. Since its inception in 2001, 73 high school seniors have now 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 nomination is considered with the following criteria: 40% academic, 40% athletic and 20% civic. Four student-athletes receive a scholarship each year.

Partners Help with Advertising: Several HAECO Invitational partners are helping advertise the tournament through their in-kind partnerships. Fairway Outdoor Advertising is once again providing digital billboards showcasing the tournament. WFMY News 2, 98.7 Simon, 102 Jamz, 97.1, QMG and 93.1 The Wolf are advertising the tournament as in-kind partners.

Steak ‘N Shake Shootin’ For Shakes: Steak ‘N Shake Shootin’ For Shakes, a halftime

basketball shooting contest, returns to the HAECO Invitational this year. Steak ‘N Shake Shootin’ For Shakes will be conducted during each tournament game except for the two championship contests. During halftime, a maximum of 50 people may purchase a Steak ‘N Shake Shootin’ For Shakes ticket for $1 for one chance to shoot a free throw. Those that make the shot will advance to the next round until one shooter remains on each end. Those two shooters will shoot again to determine a winner for that game who earns a Steak ‘N Shake gift certificate and a HAECO Invitational T-Shirt. Winners from individual games do not advance to a winner’s competition; each halftime features its own complete competition.

Corporate Partnership: HAECO Invitational revenue comes from ticket sales and corporate partnerships; sales success contributes directly to how much money is donated to charities and the participating schools each year. The Greensboro Sports Council is very active in raising funds for the tournament, but for more than a decade, participating schools have shared in the sales efforts. Each school is soliciting a minimum of $1,500 in corporate partnerships. HAECO Invitational partnership is among the most economical sports marketing opportunities available to Piedmont Triad companies.

The Tournament: More than four decades ago, seven Greensboro Sports Council members envisioned a high school basketball tournament that would raise funds for its participating schools. The HAECO Invitational was founded in 1976 as the Little 4. At that time, the Big Four Atlantic Coast Conference schools, Duke, N.C. State, UNC-Chapel Hill and Wake Forest, competed in the Big 4 Tournament in the Greensboro Coliseum. The HAECO Invitational was created to mirror the tournament that showcased North Carolina’s ACC teams. In 1978, the tournament expanded to eight teams with Ragsdale, High Point Andrews, High Point Central and Thomasville High School joining the original four. In 1979 and ’80, the tournament returned to its original schools before expanding to eight teams permanently in 1981. The women’s side of the tournament began in 1980. For a more complete look at tournament history, please visit https://www.HAECOInvitational.com/.

2017 Tournament Recap: Greensboro Day School made tournament history in 2017 becoming the first school to win seven-consecutive tournaments. The top-seeded Bengals defeated Grimsley High School, Northern Guilford and Smith High School on the way to coach Freddy Johnson’s record 16th men’s title. On the women’s side, the Northwest Guilford Vikings won their fourth-consecutive title defeating Grimsley, Ragsdale and Northern Guilford High Schools on their way to their sixth tournament title.

Tournament Notes:

The Greensboro Day School men won their seventh-consecutive tournament championship in 2017 and made tournament history along the way. No other team has ever won seven-consecutive titles. Going back to their 2011 title, the Bengals have now won 21 consecutive HAECO Invitational games.

Greensboro Day men’s coach Freddy Johnson is the only coach in tournament history who has won seven-consecutive HAECO Invitational titles. His seven-year run follows the four-year run he enjoyed during 2005-08. Johnson has 16 HAECO Invitational titles – more than any other coach in tournament history. Coach Johnson is a member of the North Carolina and Guilford County Sports Halls of Fame.

The Greensboro Day School men have enjoyed an impressive presence in the HAECO Invitational championship game. The Bengals have played for the title in 12 of the last 14 years and 19 of the last 26 years.

The Page High School women (1988 – ’92), the Western Guilford women (1992-’95), the Greensboro Day School men (2005-’08) and the Northwest Guilford women (2014-’17) are the only teams that have won four consecutive HAECO Invitational titles.

The Greensboro Day School men lead the overall HAECO Invitational history with 16 tournament championships; Page High School leads the women’s tournament history with 13 tournament titles.

Former Page High School coaches Luke McKeel, Deborah Jones and Kathy Turner won the Pirates’ 13 HAECO Invitational women’s championships. McKeel won seven of the first nine tournaments, Jones won four including three straight from 2011-’13, and Turner won the other two Lady Pirate titles.

Either Page High School or Northwest Guilford has played in every women’s championship game since 2003. Page has played in five of the last nine, and Northwest has played in 12 of the last 15 including each of the last five. In addition, either the Lady Vikings or the Lady Pirates have won the last eight tournaments.

The Northwest Guilford Lady Vikings have played in the championship game in 12 of the last 15 years winning seven times. Coach Darlene Joyner joined the Vikings in 2002, and all of their championship-game appearances have come under Coach Joyner meaning she has made 12 appearances in the championship game in her 16 seasons as the Vikings’ coach. Joyner was inducted into the Guilford County Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.

Page star Paris Kea became the first three-time MVP in tournament history in 2014. Five players have done it twice, but only the former Page Pirate has done it three times.

Women’s Stats: The Page Pirates have won more women’s tournaments than any other school with 13 titles. The Lady Pirates have played for the championship 18 times, also more than any other team.

Championships                                     Title Game Appearances

Page High School        - 13                      Page High School                       - 18

Northwest Guilford      - 7                       Northwest Guilford                  - 12

Page High School        - 5                       Smith High School                       - 10

Western Guilford         - 4                      Dudley High School               - 9

Smith High School      - 3                        Grimsley High School             - 7

Northeast Guilford       - 3                      Western Guilford                     - 6

Dudley High School    - 1                         Northeast Guilford                   - 5

Ragsdale High School  - 1                         Northern Guilford                    - 2

                                                  Eastern Guilford              - 2

                                                  Ragsdale High School               - 1

Men’s Stats: Greensboro Day School has won more men’s championships than any other school taking top honors 16 times in 20 title-game appearances.

Championships                                     Title Game Appearances

Greensboro Day           - 16                     Greensboro Day School           - 20

Dudley High School    - 10                       Dudley High School                - 19

Page High School        - 8                      Grimsley High School             - 13

Grimsley High School - 6                         Page High School                       - 13

Smith High School      - 2                       Smith High School                       - 7

                                                 Northwest Guilford                  - 3

                                                 Northern Guilford              - 2

                                                 Northeast Guilford              - 2

                                                 Northern Guilford              - 1

                                                 Southeast Guilford              - 1

                                                 Southwest Guilford              - 1

                                                 Eastern Guilford              - 1

                                                 Ragsdale High School              - 1

Coaching Statistics:

Women's Wins by Coach:                                                    Men's Wins by Coach:

Darlene Joyner (NWG)                  7                                  - Freddy Johnson (GDS)      16
Luke McKeel (PHS)                      7                                  - Mac Morris (PHS)                     7
Deborah Jones (PHS)                     4                                  - David Price (DHS)            7
Ginger Moore (WG                       4                                  - Phil Weaver (GHS)                   4
Phil Weaver (GHS)                        3                                  - Bill Chambers (DHS)               1
Mike Bradley (NEG)                     2                                  - Jack Chatham (DHS)                 1
Rick Hartsook (GHS)                    2                                  - Darren Corbett (GHS)        1
Kathy Turner (PHS)                       2                                  - Steve Hankins (DHS)                    1
Kris Britton (DHS)                        1                                  - Robert Kent (PHS)            1
Hank Bullard (SHS)                       1                                  - Reggie Peace (SHS)                       1
Jerry Fuqua (RHS)                         1                                  - Art Wade (SHS)                      1
Crystal Hazelwood (NEG)             1                                         -Bill Walton (GHS)                   1
Ashton Jeffries (SHS)                    1
Lou Roshelli (SHS)                       1

Winning Coaches: Of the 16 men and women coaching in this year’s HAECO Invitational, only three have won the tournament. Freddy Johnson won all 16 of his HAECO Invitational titles at Greensboro Day; Bill Chambers, who won the tournament in 1983 while coaching at Dudley, is now the Northern Guilford coach. On the women’s side, only Darlene Joyner (NW Guilford) has won the HAECO. She has seven HAECO Invitational championships to her credit.

Welcome New Coaches: The HAECO Invitational welcomes two coaches making their first HAECO Invitational appearances: Mara Montana (Greensboro Day women), James Atkinson (Ragsdale men) and Michael Patterson (Smith women).

Overtime Championships: The HAECO Invitational championship game has gone to overtime only three times, and all three involved the Greensboro Day School Bengals. The first two were between Dudley and Greensboro Day. In 1987, Greensboro Day beat Dudley 57-55 in Greensboro Day’s first HAECO Invitational appearance. In 1992, the tables were turned as the Panthers beat the Bengals 66-63. In 2013, the title tilt included the Bengals and Page High School; the second-seeded Bengals upset the top-seeded Pirates 53-51 after one extra stanza.

2017 Participating Schools: Dudley High School, Greensboro Day School, Grimsley High School, Northern Guilford, Northwest Guilford, Page High School, Ragsdale High School and Smith High School.

Tickets: HAECO Invitational tickets are available through the participating schools or at the Greensboro Coliseum Box Office. Tournament books containing tickets for all games are $15. Single-session tickets are $7 for the opening and semi-final rounds and $10 for championship day. Single session tickets are only available at the Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center box office.

2018 Women’s Seeds

1)Northwest Guilford
2)Ragsdale High School
3)Northern Guilford
4)Dudley High School
5)Greensboro Day School
6)Page High School
7)Grimsley High School
8)Smith High School

2018 Men’s Seeds

1)Greensboro Day School
2)Northwest Guilford
3)Smith High School
4)Page High School
5)Dudley High School
6)Ragsdale High School
7)Grimsley High School
8)Northern Guilford

See brackets when you CLICK HERE
**********The above Click, will take you directly to the men’s and women’s brackets….**********

The HAECO Invitational is an annual high school basketball tournament in Greensboro, N.C. Founded in 1976 as the Little 4 Invitational, the tournament features men’s and women’s teams representing eight high schools located in Guilford County. The tournament is played at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex. Tournament proceeds are donated to local charities and the participating schools; the HAECO Invitational is planned and implemented by the Greensboro Sports Council. For more information, please visit www.HAECOInvitational.com and follow the event on Twitter: @HAECOinvit.