LAKEPORT — Who has Lake County”s best varsity boys” basketball team? The 14th annual Record-Bee Hoop Classic might help answer that question when it tips off Monday beginning at 3:30 p.m. at Clear Lake High School in Lakeport.
The Hoop Classic features all of the county”s varsity and JV boys” basketball teams competing in a round-robin format that gives every squad a shot at beating every other squad. Winners are determined by overall record. A series of tie-breakers are used only if necessary.
Middletown is gunning for its third straight title in the varsity division, a feat accomplished by only one other team — Clear Lake won four straight between 1996-1999. Clear Lake is the defending champion in the JV division.
Each team plays four games in the Hoop Classic, one more than in a conventional eight-team tournament. Every team has a bye day during tournament week and all teams are off Wednesday, Dec. 12.
In first-round games on Monday, Upper Lake and Clear Lake clash in a JV game at 3:30 p.m., followed by the Upper Lake-Clear Lake varsity game at 5 p.m., the Kelseyville-Middletown JV game at 6:30 p.m., and the Kelseyville-Middletown varsity game at 8 p.m. Lower Lake is off Monday (the complete tournament schedule is at right).
Varsity coaches compete in a special 3-point contest on Tuesday, Dec. 11 immediately following the Upper Lake-Kelseyville varsity game. The winner receives a basket of holiday treats.
Free-throw and 3-pointer contests for JV and varsity players, as selected by their teams, take place Friday, Dec. 14. Each team can select one shooter per contest and defending champions receive automatic berths. Dillion Gonzales of Upper Lake, last year”s JV 3-point winner, is automatically entered into this year”s varsity contest since he is now playing at the varsity level.
MVP and All-Tournament awards as well as team trophies are presented following the final game on Saturday, Dec. 15.
All Hoop Classic proceeds benefit the host high school, which is responsible for setting the admission prices. Next year”s tournament takes place in Lower Lake. A host for the 2009 Hoop Classic has yet to be determined.
