About the Harlan Carter Invitational basketball tournament
History of the Harlan Carter Tournament
In the spring of 1970, Mr. Dick Lamoureax, the Varsity Basketball Coach and Athletic Director at
Enterprise High School, requested the Shasta Union School District Athletic Directors to consider the
idea of an opening weekend tournament hosted by our district. As many tournaments only invite the
varsity teams, this left junior varsity teams without games for that weekend. It was decided to invite both varsity and junior varsity teams from each school. The athletic directors approved the tournament
request, which was then approved by the administration and the superintendent. The host of the tournament was to rotate each year between Enterprise, Central Valley, and Shasta. In 1991, the brand-new Foothill High School joined the ranks of Shasta Union High School District. Because of their small size, Foothill was not involved in the Harlan Carter Tournament until 1994. Central Valley High School dropped out of the Shasta Union High School District when they became apart of Gateway School District leaving, Enterprise, Shasta, and Foothill High Schools as the host schools of the Harlan Carter Invitational Basketball Tournament.
The first Annual Shasta Union High School District Tournament was held at Shasta College (varsity) and
Central Valley High School (junior varsity). The district invited schools in the Shasta College attendance
area – Central Valley and Enterprise districts schools, Dunsmuir, Fall River, Trinity, Burney, Eureka and
Fortuna rounded out the eight-team bracket. Shasta High School, also a district school, was not included in the first two tournaments as they had a two-year contract with two Sacramento schools.
In the spring of 1971, Mr. Harlan Carter, teacher and former varsity basketball coach at Shasta High School, passed away after a brief illness. Mr. John Riley, principal of Central Valley High School and long-term friend of Harlan Carter, suggested that we dedicate the district tournament in his memory. The name of the second tournament was changed to the Second Annual Harlan Carter Invitational Basketball Tournament.
The third Annual Harlan Carter Invitational Basketball Tournament was hosted by Shasta High School. It was decided that the host school would be responsible for choosing the tournament teams. Participating schools were Central Valley, Enterprise, Shasta (for the first time), Albany, Pleasant Valley, Rio Americana, Hiram Johnson, and Grant.
Fifty years ago, girls’ high school athletics in this area didn’t have a large following or very much media coverage. On Thursday, December 12, 1974, the Record Searchlight, for the first time, mentioned the Shasta High School girls were hosting a 14-game basketball tournament. The following day, a small box score revealed Shasta 40 and Corning 25.
In later tournaments, additional competitive events were held at the Harlan Carter Invitational Basketball Tournament. These events were the competitions for the cheerleaders, song leaders, three-point shooting, and slam-dunk contests.
Harlan Carter, the Man 1912-1971
Harlan Carter was a man who was dedicated to working with young people. This dedication inspired in his role as a teacher and coach at Shasta High School. As a lifetime resident of Redding, Carter graduated from Shasta High School in 1930 and excelled in the major sports during his high school career. He went to Chico State College, where he was active in athletics, then on to Stanford University. He began his teaching and coaching career at Shasta High School in1938, and remained there until his untimely death in 1971, at the age of 59.
While serving as head coach, he attained statewide prominence in basketball. Carter became the leading advocate and pilot to the Annual Acker Round Robin Basketball Tournament, which was a tradition in the North Valley for two decades. The predecessor of the Harlan Carter Tournament brought the best high schools in Northern California together for competition. Nationally, Carter became prominent when he was selected to serve a four-year term as the National High School Representative for the National Association of Basketball Coaches and President of the California Coaches Association.
Additionally, he was instrumental in the arrangement of a cultural and athletic exchange
program between Shasta High School and Poza Rica, Mexico. If the success of former players
and students can be a tribute to a coach, Harlan Carter was very gratified. His former players
included: Jim Padgett, head coach of the University of Nevada; Dick Lamoreaux, former coach of
Enterprise High School and Lassen College; George Kutras, and Mario Serafin of Shasta College;
and George Economou of Shasta High School.
Locally, Carter became known as “Mr. Basketball” because of his unending support of the game. Hopefully his memory and dedication to the game will be perpetuated by this tournament and by the outstanding participation of the teams in the program.
Host Schools
Currently, the Harlan Carter Invitational is hosted by 3 schools within the Shasta Union High School District; Enterprise High School, Foothill High School & Shasta High School.
Our Impact
Thanks to the support of our community and our generous sponsors, the Harlan Carter Invitational has donated more than $45,000 each year directly back into the districts schools. All proceeds of this tournament go directly back to the student athletes of the Shasta Union High School District. These funds are distributed to the District’s booster clubs which help offset transportation, uniform, and equipment costs for athletes. Without this generous support, this tournament would not be
possible.
Donate to Harlan Carter Invitational
Your donation and tournament attendance will help us continue our mission and support our SUHSD community. Every dollar counts and will make a difference in the lives of the students & athletic programs we serve.
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