LOWER LAKE >> There isn”t a league title or a season on the line because it”s not the playoffs, but it sometimes feels like the postseason when county schools collide in the annual Record-Bee Hoop Classic boys” basketball tournament.
The 21st annual edition of the Hoop Classic, which features the junior varsity and varsity teams from Clear Lake, Kelseyville, Lower Lake and Middletown high schools, tips off today at 2:30 p.m. at Lower Lake High School”s new gym. The round-robin format used during the three-day tournament means that no team can dodge another, which often happens in a standard eight-team tourney. Champions will be crowned and county bragging rights secured following the final game on Saturday when the All-Tournament teams are announced.
Today”s schedule of first-round games features JV contests between Kelseyville-Middletown at 2:30 p.m. and Clear Lake-Lower Lake at 5:30 p.m. Varsity games match Kelseyville-Middletown at 4 p.m. and Clear Lake-Lower Lake at 7 p.m. Starting times outside of the first game are approximate because the tournament doesn”t always run on schedule.
Each of the first two Hoop Classic games on Friday and Saturday are JV contests. The two late games are varsity contests. A limited supply of tournament programs, which include a complete schedule of games, are available at the gate.
Defending champions are Clear Lake (varsity) and Middletown (JV).
The free-throw and 3-point contests take place Friday. The JV contests follow the first JV game between Clear Lake-Kelseyville and the varsity contests follow the first varsity game between Clear Lake-Kelseyville. Winners are presented with awards that night. All other awards are handed out following the final game on Saturday.
The Hoop Classic is a fundraiser for the host high school, which keeps all gate receipts as well as concession and program sales. Tournament entry fees pay for officials and the Record-Bee pays for all tournament awards, including a spirit trophy that is presented each year to the top cheerleading/spirit squad.
First contested in 1994, the Hoop Classic was the idea of former Middletown High School varsity boys” basketball coach Bill Foltmer, who teamed up with the Record-Bee to start the tournament. It included all five of the county”s high schools and was contested over a six-day span through 2010, at which point Upper Lake dropped out. Each of the last three Hoop Classics have been four-team tournaments contested over a three-day period.
All-Tournament teams in both the JV and varsity divisions include a most valuable player, All-Tourney players and a Sixth-Man Award. Each JV and varsity coach casts a ballot in his respecitve divison. The Record-Bee also casts a ballot in each division.
Middletown is scheduled to host the 2015 tournament.
