The Frank Spencer Holiday Classic is a basketball tournament held in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in late December. The tournament is named after Frank Spencer, former sports editor for the Winston-Salem Journal, and is a significant fundraiser for the high schools of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.
History As a result of Spencer's relentless campaign throughout the state of North Carolina, 11 high schools built gymnasiums in the 1930s and 1940s that included basketball courts. His dream come true was the formation of the Northwest (NC) Basketball Tournament which he ran from the 1920s through the early 1950s. The tournament eventually had more than 140 teams and lasted nearly four weeks. "Ripley's Believe It or Not" recognized the tournament as the world's largest sports tournament.Winston-Salem Journal | VISIONARY: Spencer had a passion for high-school basketball
After a 20-year hiatus, the tournament was revived in 1974 and was formatted to a smaller three-day even held each December between Christmas and New Year's at Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum, and upon its demolition, the newly built Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
High school participants of past Frank Spencer tournaments who went on to play professional basketball include NBA players Chris Paul, Josh Howard and Othello Hunter, as well as professional players in non-U.S. leagues including Reyshawn Terry.
The 2011 tournament produced some firsts. In the Pepsi Bracket, Forsyth Country Day became the first private school to win a Frank Spencer Championship. The Furies defeated West Forsyth for the title in overtime. That game also marked the first championship game to be decided in overtime.
In the Champion Bracket, West Stokes became the first 2A school to win the Frank Spencer Championship. The Wildcats defeated Winston-Salem Prep in triple-overtime. The game is also the longest game in tournament history.
Past Champions
2021 Glenn (Pepsi Bracket) 2021 Winston-Salem Prep (WSFCS Bracket) 2020 No Tournament Held 2019 Mt. Tabor (Pepsi Bracket) 2019 North Forsyth (Wake Forest Baptist Sports Bracket) 2018 East Forsyth (Pepsi Bracket) 2018 Parkland (Myers Tire Bracket) 2017 RJ Reynolds (Pepsi Bracket) 2017 Winston-Salem Prep (Champion Bracket) 2016 West Forsyth (Champion Bracket) 2016 Mt. Airy (Pepsi Bracket)2015 RJ Reynolds (Champion Bracket) 2015 Parkland (Pepsi Bracket)2014 Reagan (Champion Bracket) 2014 East Forsyth (Pepsi Bracket) 2013 East Forsyth (Champion Bracket) 2013 West Stokes (Pepsi Bracket) 2012 Mt. Tabor (Champion Bracket) 2012 Forsyth Country Day (Pepsi Bracket) 2011 West Stokes (Champion Bracket) 2011 Forsyth Country Day (Pepsi Bracket) 2010 Lexington (Journal Bracket) 2010 Reagan (Pepsi Bracket) 2009 Reagan 2008 Mt. Tabor 2007 Mt. Tabor 2006 (National) Kathleen HS (Kathleen, Fla.) 2006 (Local) East Forsyth 2005 (National) South Laurel HS (South Laurel, Ky.) 2005 (Local)Mt. Tabor 2004 (National) Gaffney HS (Gaffney, S.C.) 2004 (Local) Parkland 2003 West Forsyth 2002 West Forsyth 2001 North Forsyth 2000 R.J. Reynolds 1999 R.J. Reynolds 1998 R.J. Reynolds 1997 Mt. Tabor 1996 Carver 1995 West Forsyth 1994 Glenn 1993 Parkland 1992 East Forsyth 1991 Carver 1990 Carver 1989 North Forsyth 1988 Eden Morehead 1987 Glenn 1986 North Forsyth 1985 North Surry 1984 North Forsyth 1983 Chapel Hill 1982 North Surry 1981 Hickory 1980 Parkland 1979 West Forsyth 1978 North Forsyth 1977 East Forsyth 1976 North Forsyth 1975 No Tournament Held 1974 R.J. Reynolds
Tournament Championships School Championships Last North Forsyth 6 2001 Mt. Tabor 5 2012 R.J Reynolds 5 2015 West Forsyth 5 2016 East Forsyth 4 2003 Carver 3 1996 Parkland 3 2004 Reagan 3 2014 Glenn 3 2021 North Surry 2 1985 Forsyth Country Day 2 2012 West Stokes 2 2013 Winston-Salem Prep 2 2021 Chapel Hill 1 1983 Eden Morehead 1 1988 Gaffney (SC) 1 2004 Hickory 1 1981 Kathleen (FL) 1 2006 Lexington 1 2010 South Laurel (KY) 1 2005
References
External links Frank Spencer Holiday Classic Frank Spencer Holiday Classic 2010 Schedule Frank Spencer Holiday Classic 2011 Schedule List of tournament champions and brackets