Signal Mountain boys' coach Steve Redman, shown here from the 2014 event, helped start the Hoops for Hope breast cancer-awareness basketball fundraiser, which will be held Saturday at GPS.The eighth Hoops for Hope charity basketball event will take place Saturday at GPS. Proceeds go to the MaryEllen Locher Foundation scholarship fund, which provides tuition help for students who have had a parent diagnosed with breast cancer.
The first of five games is Hixson's girls facing Notre Dame at 2 p.m. Those boys' teams are scheduled to play at 3:30.
Bledsoe County's girls are set to take on the host Bruisers at 5. Action concludes with Fairview Christian Academy, from Athens, Tenn., playing Signal Mountain at 6:30 and 8, with the girls' game first.
Hoops for Hope was an idea conceived by Steve Redman when he was the girls' coach at Red Bank. Red Bank hosted the first, which consisted of one girls' game and one boys' game.
The fundraiser has featured as many as six games. It has been held at Baylor and Signal Mountain in addition to GPS, where it's being held for the third consecutive year. Former Signal Mountain boys' and Notre Dame girls' coach Wes Moore is in his second season heading the Bruisers' program.
"I'm just glad Wes and GPS have kind of taken the torch," said Redman, who is now head coach of the Signal Mountain boys. "They're the ones putting the time into it. Obviously, it's a big undertaking. As long as scholarships are getting raised, that's what it's all about."
To date the event has awarded more than 20 scholarships totaling $40,000 to local students. Administrator Cindy Pare said the Locher Foundation is particularly thankful for the backing it has received from Redman, Moore and current Notre Dame girls' coach Jason Hill throughout Hoops for Hope's existence.
"They have been faithful supporters," Pare said. "We're very grateful for those coaches and their long-term dedication to our work."
Eight applicants are being considered this year for scholarships, which will be awarded before the Bledsoe-GPS game.
Admission is $7. A T-shirt and admission comes with a donation of $10.
Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him on Twitter @KelleySmiddie.