Current and former Habersham Central basketball players, coaches, and cheerleaders celebrated a half-century milestone on Jan. 24, 2020. (Daniel Purcell/Now Habersham)
This year marks Habersham Central High School’s 50th year. Last year the school celebrated five decades of Raider football and music with the Band of Blue and Chorus. On Jan. 24, the celebration continued on the hardwood in Mt. Airy.
Over 75 basketball coaches, players, and cheerleaders – past and present – gathered center court during halftime of the Raiders’ home game against Winder-Barrow. Some of the alumni played on the school’s first basketball team during the inaugural 1970-71 season.
“It was great seeing some people from the past that came back that obviously have a love for HCHS like we do,” says the school’s athletic director and former basketball coach Geep Cunningham. “HCHS holds a special place in our hearts and its always a good time to be around others that have that same feeling.”
Cunningham’s connection to Central runs deep. He was a student-athlete at the school and spent his early career teaching and coaching at Central. In the ’80s, Cunningham was the head basketball coach for both the girl’s and boy’s teams. He returned to HCHS in 2013 when the school system hired him as athletic director.
Cunningham was instrumental in organizing the 50-year ceremony. Former players say they’re glad that he did.
“It was fantastic to be surrounded by friends and Raider basketball alumni!” says Dr. Renee York, who now serves as Director of Federal Programs and Testing for the Habersham County School System. “Of course, nothing takes the place of playing on the hardwood.”
York and her brother, Richard, both played under Coach Cunningham in the ’80s. After graduating from college, she returned to Central to coach.
Dr. York says being part of a team “has influenced everything I’ve done in my life.” She says her time on the team taught her the value of hard work, resilience, and countless leadership skills.
And it all started with one man.
When North and South Habersham high schools consolidated into Habersham Central in 1970, the former rival Bobcats and Rebels became Raiders. Jimmy Black helped guide the merger as Central’s first head basketball coach. Even after five decades, Black, who’s long since retired, still holds a special place in his former players’ hearts.
“We all thought Coach Jimmy was a great coach, but much more important than that was that we knew he loved us and would always take care of us,” Cunningham says. He calls Black his mentor and says he still tries to emulate him.
“He was just somebody you could look at and say ‘I want to be like that.’ Everybody looked up to Coach Jimmy.”
“I don’t know if I was a good example or not,” counters Black, “but I always tried to be.”
The coach who Cunningham says “set the standard” says there were three main lessons he tried to instill in his players. “Always be yourself. Do what’s right. And honor your father and mother.”
Coach Jimmy says it’s hard to believe it’s been fifty years since he launched Central’s basketball program. “I miss the players,” he says. “I saw a couple of guys who played for me with full beards, and I didn’t even recognize them.”
Looks may change, but not the memories. There are many HCHS alums who fondly remember the coach who started it all, and they were happy on Jan. 24 to celebrate alongside him.
RELATED
