Ernie Masche (center), co-tournament director for the 2019 Dick’s Sporting Goods Classic at Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC), with a check from proceeds that distributed $7,147 to each of the eight participating schools./HICKORY METRO SPORTS COMMISSION PHOTO
HobbsDailyReport.com
HICKORY – The annual Dick’s Sporting Goods Classic high school basketball tournament continues to generate funds for the participating schools that have far-reaching benefits.
Tournament officials announced this week they’ve distributed more $57,000 to the athletic departments at Alexander Central, Bunker Hill, Fred T. Foard, Hickory, Maiden, Newton-Conover, St. Stephens and South Caldwell.
The basketball tournaments, boys and girls, are played over the Christmas holidays at Catawba Valley Community College.
Hickory’s girls and boys won tournament titles last December.
Each school received $4,147 from gate receipts (more than 4,000 fans attended the tournament) and an additional $3,000 from the Dick’s Sports Good Foundation’s “Sports Matter” program.
“It takes more than just one or two people to make this tournament a success,” Classic co-director Ernie Masche said in a press release from the Hickory Metro Sports Commission. “On behalf of the Hickory Metro Sports Commission, I would like to thank the Dick’s Sporting Goods Classic tournament committee and everyone at Catawba Valley Community College who gave up some of their holiday break.
“Finally, this is all about the schools and their athletic programs. We appreciate all our local sponsors, our title sponsor Dick’s Sporting Goods and, of course, the fans who ultimately make this tournament possible and enable each school to add much needed funds to their athletic programs.”
Tournament officials are already working on the 34th annual tournament scheduled for Dec. 28-30.