Herb Richardson

Basketball fans have a chance to see some of the best women’s juco teams and girls high school squads this weekend at the Fourth Annual Herb Richardson Women’s Basketball Classic at Wagstaff Gymnasium.

The tournament is Friday and Saturday.

The schedule for Friday includes: Angelina (1-1) vs. Collin (2-0), 3 p.m.; Kilgore (3-0) vs. Temple (2-0), 5 p.m.; and TJC (1-0) vs. South Plains (1-1), 7 p.m.

There are six games on Saturday — three high school games and three juco games.

Saturday’s schedule includes: Class 2A No. 1 Martin’s Mill (1-0) vs. Broaddus (1-0), 10:30 a.m.; South Plains vs. Angelina, noon; Collin vs. Kilgore, 2 p.m.; TJC vs. Temple, 4 p.m.; Tyler Legacy (2-0) vs. Shreveport (Louisiana) Airline, 6 p.m.; and Brook Hill vs. Tenaha (0-1), 7:30 p.m.

The Classic honors the late Tyler Junior College women’s coach.

Richardson was born in Livingston where he attended Livingston High School. After graduation, he enlisted in the US Army where he served during World War II. Upon returning home, he began his post-secondary education at Tyler Junior College where he was a scholarship athlete earning an Associate Degree, and numerous awards including men’s basketball All-America and national champion.

After graduating TJC, he continued his education at the University of Houston where he played basketball for the Cougars. There he received a Bachelor’s degree in History and Kinesiology.

He was basketball coach at Mount Pleasant and Van high schools before becoming an assistant under Floyd Wagstaff at TJC. He was later a TJC counselor, but then became head coach of the TJC women’s basketball team, where he led the Apache Ladies to the national tournament, including finishing second in 1979.

Coach Richardson was inducted into the TJC Circle of Honor in 1995.

APACHE BASKETBALL

The 2-0 Apaches men’s basketball team will play in the RV & Powersports Classic on Friday and Saturday in Ottumwa, Iowa.

On Friday, TJC meets Sauk Valley (Illinois) (0-2) at 4:30 p.m. Friday. The Apaches play host Indian Hills (1-1) at 7 p.m. Saturday.