LAKEPORT — It not only fell once, it fell twice.
The Record-Bee Hoop Classic individual record for most points scored by a junior varsity player during the tournament was broken twice Saturday, the final day of the week-long, round-robin competition at Clear Lake High School.
Lower Lake”s Jaymen Richardson scored 24 points in the early JV game Saturday to finish with 82, topping the old record of 75 set by Upper Lake”s Jayce Meri in the 2005 Hoop Classic, also at Clear Lake High School. Later Saturday, Kelseyville”s Steven Grossner scored 23 points to finish with 90, breaking Richardson”s record.
Richardson did shatter the tournament record for most 3-pointers by a JV player. He connected on 15. The old record of 11 belonged to Kelseyville”s Johnny Rosas and was set in 2002.
Two records also fell in the varsity division. Clear Lake scored 87 points in wins over Middletown and Upper Lake to set the single-game team scoring record. Kelseyville set the other record by limiting Upper Lake to 24 points in a second-round 64-24 win. That”s the fewest points allowed by a Hoop Classic varsity team in a single game.
One record that received its first real challenge since it was set back in 1995 was the tournament record for most points scored by a varsity player. That mark still belongs to former Lower Lake star Justin Downard, who scored 107 (26.8 average) while leading the Trojans to the title in the second annual Hoop Classic. Middletown”s Tyler Hunt came close this year, finishing with 102 (25.5 average).
The Hoop Classic had three pretty good big men this year between Hunt, tournament MVP Kevin Freeman of Lower Lake, and Kelseyville”s Isaac McQueen.
Quality over quantity
Kelseyville sophomore point guard Peter Wotherspoon played only 2 ? tournament games because of an ankle injury but was still named to the All-Tournament team, proving that it”s not how often you”re out on the court that impresses the coaches, but what you do when you”re out there.
One, two, three in a row
The Clear Lake JVs under coach Chris Fisher have won three straight Hoop Classic titles, tying Kelseyville (1996-98) for the most consecutive championships. Clear Lake”s varsity won four straight titles in 1996-99.
Kudos
Largely because of the tournament staff assembled by Clear Lake High School athletic director Glen “Milo” Meyer, this year”s Classic ran like clockwork. Paul Larrea handled the tournament scorebook, Rik Hayes ran the possession clock, Erik Meyer manned the scoreboard, and Jean Markham took care of the hospitality room. All of Clear Lake”s coaches took turns working the gate.
Classic turns 15 in ”08
The 15th annual Hoop Classic visits Lower Lake in 2008. It will be the first boys” basketball tournament held in the school”s new gym, which is currently under construction. The Trojans currently play in the tiny Carl Delgado gym.
The site of the 2009 tournament has not yet been established.
