TYLER, TEXAS - From Thursday, November 17, through Saturday, November 19, the Bishop Gorman Catholic School Lady Crusaders will host the 18th annual Macy Chenevert Memorial Basketball Tournament. This varsity girls basketball tournament is held each year in honor of Macy Chenevert, a Bishop Gorman student who passed away in 2005 at the age of 14.
Macy’s journey began with a simple limp in the summer of 2004. Macy assured her parents, Becky and Steve, that it was just a minor sports injury. However, they would quickly find out from doctors that the diagnosis was cancer: Ewing Sarcoma. Chemo treatments were to begin immediately. Macy now faced a huge challenge. As an eighth grader, she would begin a new school and a new basketball season without her long blonde hair. However, before her first tipoff, her teammates would soon learn this was no ordinary point guard. This new player would be bringing to the court fearlessness, compassion, and determination. At Macy’s insistence, chemo and radiation treatments were all scheduled around basketball games. Since Macy was the leading scorer she was determined to be at every game because she “could not let her team down.” This point guard would do much more than lead the Lady Crusader offense in scoring, she would teach a team and a whole community life lessons they still treasure today.
Macy's parents have been sharing her inspirational story with young athletes, coaches, parents, and community members over the years. They spoke with the Lady Crusader basketball team on the eve of the opening day of the tournament and encouraged them to always give their best effort and never give up. The Cheneverts have also greatly supported Bishop Gorman student-athletes by awarding the Macy Chenevert Award of Courage Scholarship to two eighth grade students and the Macy Chenevert Memorial Scholarship to two graduating seniors.
Bishop Gorman celebrates the life and legacy of Crusader Macy Chenevert by gathering sixteen girls varsity basketball teams together in this three-day, action packed event with 32 games played on the Bishop Gorman campus. Gold and Silver bracket winners will collect the top team honors along with individuals who will be selected for Overall Tournament MVP, Defensive MVP, Offensive MVP and seven additional All Tournaments.
Fans attending the tournament will find Becky and Steve Chenevert sitting at half court all day every day, cheering on not only the Lady Crusaders, but all of the competitors. Macy's legacy endures.
