KELSEYVILLE >> The first time a varsity player won back-to-back MVP awards in the annual Lake County Record-Bee Hoop Classic boys basketball tournament also was the last time.
Lower Lake High School’s Justin Downard earned MVP honors in each of the first two Hoop Classics (1994-95) and no one has done it since. That streak could end next month when the 23rd edition of the tournament tips off at Kelseyville High School.
Last year’s MVP, Kyle Ellis, guided the Knights to their first Hoop Classic championship since 2000. He returns this season to lead another strong Kelseyville team, which has the benefit of playing on its home floor during the tournament’s three-day run (Dec. 15-17). If the Knights repeat as Hoop Classic champions, something they’ve never done, Ellis is likely to be one of the reasons why.
Kelseyville begins defense of its tournament title Dec. 15 against Lower Lake in the late game at 7 p.m. The Knights follow that up with a Dec. 16 game against Middletown and a Dec. 17 game against archrival Clear Lake.
The Hoop Classic is split between junior varsity and varsity divisions. The format is round-robin, meaning each team plays every other team once. Winners are decided by overall record. Two or three-team ties are broken by a series of tiebreakers. The Kelseyville varsity boys and Clear Lake JV boys captured the championship trophies a year ago when the tournament took place at Middletown High School.
Last year’s junior varsity MVP was Brady McGuire of Clear Lake.
All proceeds from the Hoop Classic benefit the basketball/sports programs at the host high school. Team entry fees pay for the officiating costs while the Lake County Record-Bee makes the tournament programs and purchases all awards, which are presented following the final game on Saturday. The host school keeps all of the gate as well as concession and program sales.
Each school is allowed to enter one player per contest on Dec. 16 when the free-throw and 3-pointer contests are held. Defending champions, provided they haven’t graduated, are also automatically entered.
