News

TIP OFF TO TITLES: YMCA honors basketball champions

By Lightning Reports, Published: February 26, 2026

The Hendersonville Family YMCA will host a communitywide Black History Month celebration on Friday honoring local Black basketball champions whose leadership, mentorship and service have strengthened Henderson County both on and off the court.

This special event, From Tipoff to Titles: Hendersonville Black Legends of the Game, will recognize athletes who not only achieved excellence in basketball, but also gave back to their community mentoring young people, advancing opportunity and modeling the YMCA’s core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.

Basketball was invented at a YMCA in 1891, and more than a 130 years later, the game continues to connect generations. This celebration highlights how local leaders have used sport as a platform to build character, foster belonging and create opportunity for others.

Featured speakers include Henderson County natives Tippy Creswell and Kevin Young, along with other community voices who will share reflections on how basketball builds connection, resilience and community pride.

The event will also feature food tastings from Carolina Ace BBQ, with sponsorship from Stuller Power Solutions.

Following the celebration, attendees are invited to a special screening of Tin Can Man, a documentary on Hendersonville High School’s dramatic march to the 1972 state 3A basketball championship.

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The event, from noon to 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, at the Hendersonville Family YMCA gymnasium, is free and open to the public. Screening of Tin Can Man is at 2:30 p.m.