CHILLICOTHE - The Gus Macker basketball tournament is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024, and Cheryl's House of Hope plans to bring the tournament back to Chillicothe.

The tentative dates are May 11 and 12 in "the streets of Chillicothe." 

Gus Macker was very popular in the early 1990s when city native Mike Barrows helped the community come together and bring the event here. Cheryl's House of Hope, a local non-profit organization that helps women in recovery get back on their feet, intends to honor Barrows with the return of the tournament. 

"We need great community-minded people's support to make the Macker happen," said Cheryl Beverly of Chery's House of Hope. "We are looking for sponsors for the basketball courts, food, t-shirts, and even volunteers."

The local Gus Macker has had stops and starts since 2015. Chillicothe was formerly a highlighted stop on the annual blacktop basketball tournament tour, but in 2015, the event was not conducted. It returned for a two-year run in 2018, sponsored by Adena Health Foundation, but has most recently been held in Waverly. 

The Waverly stop will continue. 

For more information, contact Beverly at wherewazeye@gmail.com or 740-703-9615. Click here for a sponsorship form.