Submitted photo – The Fortuna freshman team will be in action at the All About the Journey Tourney this weekend.

The annual Fortuna JV boys basketball tournament has been expanded and renamed the All About the Journey Tourney in honor of Ed Houseworth.

The two-day tournament, which tips off on Friday, will now include a freshmen division and much of the money raised from the event will go towards a scholarship in Houseworth’s name that will be awarded to a Fortuna senior basketball player.

Houseworth, who passed away last year after a long battle with cancer, was a long-time local basketball coach at Fortuna, Eureka, St. Bernard’s and South Fork who was a huge influence on many local players.

“He was the epitome of what you want in a teammate,” said Fortuna varsity head coach Norm Sotomayor, who coached with Houseworth. “He worked hard every day, used his skills to make him the most effective in his role and was a deadly shooter from the free throw line.”

Submitted photo – Ed Houseworth

Details of the annual scholarship are still being finalized but more than $17,000 has already been raised and donations are still being taken at The Fortuna Rotary Foundation.

The first of the annual Ed Houseworth Scholarships will be awarded this school year.

The JV tournament will take place at Fortuna High and will include seven local teams.

In addition to the host school, the bracket will also include Arcata, Eureka, Ferndale, Hoopa, McKinleyville and St. Bernard’s.

The action begins at 4 p.m. on Friday, with the championship game scheduled for 6 p.m. on Saturday.

Houseworth’s son, freshman Jake Houseworth, is a member of the Huskies’ JV team and will play in the inaugural All About the Journey Tourney.

The freshmen tournament, meanwhile, will be held at Fortuna Middle School and will include Arcata, Del Norte, Eureka, Fortuna, Hoopa and McKinleyville.

The action tips off at 4 p.m. on Friday and the championship game will be held at 5 p.m. on Saturday.