TheLounge
12-28-2007, 05:58 PM
Schools may be out for winter break and there is not a lot going on this week, but for the truly dedicated basketball fan, now is the chance to “scout” a lot of teams — both locally and regionally.
Peninsula Athletic League fans can get a taste of Central and North division teams at the South San Francisco boys’ basketball tournament. If you’re a hoops junkie, the Leo La Rocca Sands Dunes Classic at St. Ignatius is the place to be to see some of the top talent in the greater Bay Area.
Because of the PAL’s three-division set up, the South San Francisco tournament is one of the few places where PAL teams match up. A semifinal scenario has San Mateo facing Woodside, while the tournament host would take on the Westmoor/Hillsdale winner.
With all due respect to South City, The Sand Dune Classic is the hoops epicenter this week. With St. Ignatius spacious facilities, it simultaneously conducts two eight-team tournaments — boys and girls. And unlike many pre-season tournaments, the host school doesn’t expect a free ride to the finals. If the Wildcats win either tournament, they’ll have earned it.
Burlingame represents the PAL in the girls’ bracket while Menlo-Atherton boys has the honor on the boys’ side. The Panthers’ first-round game is against Santa Cruz at 4 p.m today. One interesting story line in this tournament is shooting guard Alex Carbonel of American High in Fremont. She is one of the top scorers in the Bay Area for the 10-3 Eagles. They are in the same bracket as Burlingame so there is a chance they could meet in the next round. Other teams in the girls’ field are perennial tough Lowell-San Francisco, CCS contenders Milpitas and host St. Ignatius.
The Wildcats have to be a favorite on the boys’ side, but it will be no joke. Lurking at the top of the bracket is defending CCS Division V champ Branson —*Menlo-Atherton’s first-round opponent at 2:45 p.m. today. In the 4:30 game, Jesuit-Sacramento takes on Piedmont Hills — the team coached by former Sequoia head man Pete Simos. St. Joseph’s-Alameda —*Calvin Byrd and Jason Kidd’s alma mater —*and Miramonte-Orinda help round out the field.
And don’t feel as if you have to choose one tournament over the other. In fact, the finals are conveniently staggered —*the South City championship is played Friday night while the Sand Dune titles are contested Saturday.
***
If that’s not enough, you can always start your weekend with a game match of soccer. San Mateo is at Serra at 11 a.m. Saturday. So celebrate a Saturday like the English do — with some mid-morning soccer action.
These schools haven’t faced each but a handful of times over the last several years, but make no mistake — this is a rivalry game. Bragging rights are always on the line when any of the San Mateo high schools (Aragon, Hillsdale, San Mateo and Serra) play.
Both teams have started league play so this will be a good non-league test for both squads. Serra is undefeated against PAL teams this season —*beating Aragon 6-0, Burlingame 1-0 and Half Moon Bay 5-0.
San Mateo hasn’t been too shabby against its PAL rivals, either. The Bearcats beat Aragon 3-0 and were impressive in a scoreless tie with Burlingame.
In the battle for city supremacy, here’s how the standings look:
San Mateo 1-1-1 (beat Aragon; tied and lost to Hillsdale)
Serra 1-0 (beat Aragon)
Hillsdale 0-1-2 (tied and lost to San Mateo; tied Aragon)
Aragon 0-2-1 (lost to Serra and San Mateo; tied Hillsdale)
Giving three points for a win and one point for a tie, San Mateo leads with 4 points —*the Bearcats have also played two more games than Serra. A Serra win would give them 6 points to San Mateo’s 4. A tie, however, benefits the Bearcats.
Not that any of this stuff even matters. Just letting my mind wander through the Winter Holiday doldrums.
Nathan Mollat can be reached by e-mail: nathan@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: 344-5200 x117.
Peninsula Athletic League fans can get a taste of Central and North division teams at the South San Francisco boys’ basketball tournament. If you’re a hoops junkie, the Leo La Rocca Sands Dunes Classic at St. Ignatius is the place to be to see some of the top talent in the greater Bay Area.
Because of the PAL’s three-division set up, the South San Francisco tournament is one of the few places where PAL teams match up. A semifinal scenario has San Mateo facing Woodside, while the tournament host would take on the Westmoor/Hillsdale winner.
With all due respect to South City, The Sand Dune Classic is the hoops epicenter this week. With St. Ignatius spacious facilities, it simultaneously conducts two eight-team tournaments — boys and girls. And unlike many pre-season tournaments, the host school doesn’t expect a free ride to the finals. If the Wildcats win either tournament, they’ll have earned it.
Burlingame represents the PAL in the girls’ bracket while Menlo-Atherton boys has the honor on the boys’ side. The Panthers’ first-round game is against Santa Cruz at 4 p.m today. One interesting story line in this tournament is shooting guard Alex Carbonel of American High in Fremont. She is one of the top scorers in the Bay Area for the 10-3 Eagles. They are in the same bracket as Burlingame so there is a chance they could meet in the next round. Other teams in the girls’ field are perennial tough Lowell-San Francisco, CCS contenders Milpitas and host St. Ignatius.
The Wildcats have to be a favorite on the boys’ side, but it will be no joke. Lurking at the top of the bracket is defending CCS Division V champ Branson —*Menlo-Atherton’s first-round opponent at 2:45 p.m. today. In the 4:30 game, Jesuit-Sacramento takes on Piedmont Hills — the team coached by former Sequoia head man Pete Simos. St. Joseph’s-Alameda —*Calvin Byrd and Jason Kidd’s alma mater —*and Miramonte-Orinda help round out the field.
And don’t feel as if you have to choose one tournament over the other. In fact, the finals are conveniently staggered —*the South City championship is played Friday night while the Sand Dune titles are contested Saturday.
***
If that’s not enough, you can always start your weekend with a game match of soccer. San Mateo is at Serra at 11 a.m. Saturday. So celebrate a Saturday like the English do — with some mid-morning soccer action.
These schools haven’t faced each but a handful of times over the last several years, but make no mistake — this is a rivalry game. Bragging rights are always on the line when any of the San Mateo high schools (Aragon, Hillsdale, San Mateo and Serra) play.
Both teams have started league play so this will be a good non-league test for both squads. Serra is undefeated against PAL teams this season —*beating Aragon 6-0, Burlingame 1-0 and Half Moon Bay 5-0.
San Mateo hasn’t been too shabby against its PAL rivals, either. The Bearcats beat Aragon 3-0 and were impressive in a scoreless tie with Burlingame.
In the battle for city supremacy, here’s how the standings look:
San Mateo 1-1-1 (beat Aragon; tied and lost to Hillsdale)
Serra 1-0 (beat Aragon)
Hillsdale 0-1-2 (tied and lost to San Mateo; tied Aragon)
Aragon 0-2-1 (lost to Serra and San Mateo; tied Hillsdale)
Giving three points for a win and one point for a tie, San Mateo leads with 4 points —*the Bearcats have also played two more games than Serra. A Serra win would give them 6 points to San Mateo’s 4. A tie, however, benefits the Bearcats.
Not that any of this stuff even matters. Just letting my mind wander through the Winter Holiday doldrums.
Nathan Mollat can be reached by e-mail: nathan@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: 344-5200 x117.