36^th Annual Pizza Hut Invitational

Presented by NewBridge Bank

Greensboro Coliseum Complex; December 26, 27 and 28, 2011

2011 Tournament Facts

Traditional Dates: After multiple years of alternate dates due to a tournament day falling on Sunday, the 36^th annual Pizza Hut Invitational presented by NewBridge Bank returns to its traditional dates this year.  The tournament will begin on Monday, Dec. 26 and end on Wednesday, Dec. 28.

More than $1.1 Million Contributed to the Schools:  Many things make the Pizza Hut Invitational presented by NewBridge Bank an exceptional high school basketball tournament, but what makes the Pizza Hut Invitational unique is that tournament proceeds are donated to charity and the participating schools.  Last year, the eight participating schools each received more than $10,500 meaning the tournament donated approximately $86,000 to the schools.  In the last 12 years, the Greensboro Sports Council has now donated more than $1.1 Million to the schools that participated in the tournament.  

Sponsorship:  Pizza Hut Invitational revenue comes from ticket sales and sponsorships; sales success contributes directly to how much money is donated back to the schools each year.  The Greensboro Sports Council is very active in raising funds for the tournament, but for the eighth consecutive year, participating schools are sharing in the sponsorship sales efforts.  Each school is soliciting a minimum of $1,500 in sponsorship.  Pizza Hut Invitational sponsorship is among the most economical sports marketing opportunities available to local companies. 

Sponsors Help with Advertising: Several Pizza Hut Invitational sponsors are helping advertise the tournament through their in-kind sponsorships.  Matthews Mobile Media and the Greensboro Transit Authority are new to the tournament this year, and they have combined to present PHI advertising on multiple GTA buses.  Fairway Outdoor Advertising is once again providing static and digital billboards while the Greensboro News & Record, Rock 92, 107.5 WKZL are also advertising the tournament as in-kind sponsors.

Charity:  In addition to making its donations to the participating schools, the Pizza Hut Invitational makes charitable contributions.  This year, the tournament will make a donation to Friends for an Earlier Breast Cancer Test® before distributing the remaining dollars to the participating schools.  Since its founding in 1995, Friends for an Earlier Breast Cancer Test® has worked and focused solely on earlier detection of breast cancer as opposed to focusing on a cure for the disease. Earlier detection may prevent invasive surgery, minimize treatment and dramatically increase survival chances.  For additional information, please visit www.earlier.org. Past tournament proceeds have been contributed to Greensboro Urban Ministries, the American Cancer Society’s Coaches vs. Cancer, Children’s Home Society, the Eastern Guilford High School Fund, the Joey Cheek Fund, North Carolina State Games and the Girls and Boys Club. 

Steak ‘N Shake Shooters Shootout: The traditional Pizza Hut Invitational halftime shootout returns this year with a new name and a new format.  The Steak ‘N Shake Shooters Shootout is a halftime basketball shooting contest to be conducted during each of the 24 games comprising the 36^th annual Pizza Hut Invitational.  During halftime of each tournament game, a maximum of 50 people may purchase a Steak ‘N Shake Shooters Shootout ticket for $1 for one chance to shoot a free throw.  Half of the participants will shoot at each goal of the game court.  If a participant makes the free throw, he or she advances to the next round.  If a participant misses his or her free throw, he or she is eliminated from the competition, but that person may purchase another ticket to shoot at halftime of another game. Or, if all of the tickets for that game have not been sold, the eliminated person may purchase another ticket for the same game.  All of the people who make a free throw will advance to the next round until one person wins at each basket.  The two winners will then shoot again, using the same process, to determine a winner for that game who earns a Steak ‘N Shake gift certificate for an order of Shooters (mini cheeseburgers) and a Pizza Hut Invitational T-Shirt.  Winners from individual games will no longer advance to a winner’s competition on championship night as each halftime features its own competition.

Bill Lee Scholarship: Last year, the Greensboro Sports Council doubled the Bill Lee Scholarship to $2,000 per award. Since its inception, 36 students have been awarded this scholarship which was established in 2001 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. 

Honorary Chairman: Longtime Greensboro Sports Council member Richard Beard has been selected as this year’s honorary chairman.  Beard has chaired the Pizza Hut Invitational, served as president of the Greensboro Sports Council, Chairman of the Tournament Host Committee of Greensboro, a member of the War Memorial Coliseum Commission, Chairman of the Sports Council, he is on the Sports Council board of directors, he’s the founder and chairman of the Fred Barakat Sports Dinner and he serves on the Greensboro Sports Fund board of directors.  

The Tournament:  The Pizza Hut Invitational was founded in 1976.  At that time, the Big Four Atlantic Coast Conference schools, Duke, N.C. State, UNC-Chapel Hill and Wake Forest, competed in the Big Four Tournament in the Greensboro Coliseum.  The Pizza Hut Invitational was created to mirror the tournament that showcased North Carolina’s ACC teams and raise funds for the participating high schools’ athletic programs.  In 1978, the tournament expanded to eight teams with Ragsdale, High Point Andrews, High Point Central and Thomasville High School joining the original four.  The next two years, in 1979 and ’80, the tournament returned to its original four schools before expanding to eight teams permanently in 1981.  The women’s side of the tournament began in 1980.  The Pizza Hut Invitational is now widely considered the most successful holiday basketball tournament in North Carolina. 

2010 Tournament Recap:  In last year’s Pizza Hut Invitational, Page High School won the men’s tournament with a 76-54 win over Northern Guilford High School.  It was the Pirates’ eighth championship in 11 final-game appearances.  However, it was also their first title since 1989 and their first championship game appearance since 1990.  In the women’s tournament, Northwest Guilford defeated Smith High School 52-44.  It was the Vikings’ third championship in six final-game appearances. 

Amazing Runs:

• Before losing in the 2009 men’s semifinals, Greensboro Day School won 17 consecutive Pizza Hut Invitational games including four consecutive championships in 2005 - ’08. Greensboro Day is the only men’s team to win four consecutive titles. 
• The Page High School women won four straight in 1988 – ‘92 and the Western Guilford High School women did it 1992-‘94.     
• After joining the tournament in 2000, the Northwest Guilford the lady Vikings have played in the championship game in six of the last eight years winning three 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 six appearances in the championship game in her nine seasons as the Vikings’ coach. 



Women’s Stats:  The Page Pirates have won more women’s tournaments than any other school with 10 titles.  The Lady Pirates have played for the championship 15 times, also more than any other team.

Men’s Stats:  Dudley High School has won more men’s championships than any other school taking top honors 10 times in 19 title game appearances.  With their top seed this year, Greensboro Day will attempt to tie Dudley’s mark for most men’s championships.

Overtime Championships:  The Pizza Hut Invitational championship game has gone to overtime twice, and both times, it was a Dudley – Greensboro Day title tilt.  In 1987, Greensboro Day beat Dudley 57-55 in Greensboro Day’s first Pizza Hut Invitational appearance.  In 1992, the tables were turned as the Panthers beat the Bengals 66-63. 

Sponsorship:  Pizza Hut Invitational revenue comes from ticket sales and sponsorships; sales success contributes directly to how much money is donated back to the schools each year.  The Greensboro Sports Council is very active in raising funds for the tournament, but for the eighth consecutive year, participating schools are sharing in the sponsorship sales efforts.  Each school is soliciting a minimum of $1,500 in sponsorship.  Pizza Hut Invitational sponsorship is among the most economical sports marketing opportunities available to local companies.  

2011 Participating Schools:  Greensboro Day School, Grimsley High School, Northeast Guilford, Northern Guilford, Northwest Guilford, Page High School, Smith High School and Ragsdale High School. 

Tickets:  Pizza Hut 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.