fresno BCW first day schedule & teams

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SoCalHoops High School News

Fresno "Battle of the Central Valley"
Tourney Today--(Dec. 1, 1999)

If you can be up in the Fresno area for any reason, then get there, because you don't want to miss the Kiwanis BCW Hoop Invitational tournament. This one is officially sponsored and hosted by Clovis West and Buchannan high schools in the Fresno-Clovis area, and Dennis Margo, who organizes tournaments all over the state has put together one of the best fields anywhere this year, comparable to what you're likely to see at the best tournaments in California, and that includes the Nike Tournament over the holidays in San Diego or the Best in the West. It's better this year than even the Reebok Las Vegas Holiday Prep Classic which has gone from an entirely "open" format to four separate 16 team tournaments to accomodate a field that this year has not attracted as many top national teams which instead will be playing at other tournaments, including this year's Iolani Classic, the Slam Dunk to the Beach, or the Myrtle Beach Classic. But the tournament this week is absolutely solid, not a lemon in the bunch.

Today's Fresno Bee had some great information on the teams appearing. Here's what they had:

Who's who of hoops at BCW tourney

By Lisa Burnett
The Fresno Bee

(Published December 1, 1999)

Think of it as an early Christmas present to central San Joaquin Valley basketball fans. The Kiwanis BCW Hoop Invitational boys' tournament opens today at Buchanan and Clovis West high schools and features some of the top teams in the state, including three defending state champions and five teams ranked in Cal-Hi Sports' preseason top 17. The highlight of the 28-team field is nationally acclaimed Dominguez (Compton), ranked No. 1 in the state. The Dons won last year's Division 2 state championship.

Top area participants are Washington [Union], the defending Division 3 state champion, which is ranked No. 9 in the state; eighth-ranked Clovis West; and No. 17 Bakersfield. "It's the best local tournament that's ever been around here - by far," Washington coach Larry Triguiero says. Also featured will be fifth-ranked Long Beach Poly; defending Division 1 state champion Fremont (Oakland), ranked No. 12 in the state; and 1999 Division 5 runner-up Calvary Temple (Modesto), ranked No. 1 in its division.

Other ranked teams are Inglewood, No. 8 in Division 2; and Crossroads (Santa Monica), No. 2 in Division 4.

Pool play begins today at 4 p.m. in two gyms at Buchanan and at 5:30 p.m. in two gyms at Clovis West. The tournament continues with pool play Thursday and bracket play in four divisions on Friday and Saturday. The Gold division championship will be at 8:30 p.m. Saturday in Buchanan's East gym.

Clovis West edged Washington with a buzzer-beating shot in last year's 16-team tournament championship.

The Long Beach Press Telegram had a schedule for the games today. Here's what's on tap:

At Buchannan

West Gym:

Inglewood v. Golden Valley 4:00 pm.
Dominguez v. McLone 5:30 p.m.
Calvary Temple v. Chatsworth 7:00 p.m.
Washington Union v. Canoga Park 8:30 p.m.

East Gym

Ayala v. Cleveland 4:00 p.m.
Skyline v. Clovis 5:30 p.m.
Crossroads v. LA Fremont 7:00 p.m.
Oak Ridge v. Buchannan 8:30 p.m.

At Clovis West

West Gym:

Bakersfield v. Palisades 5:30 p.m.
Clovis West v. Deer Valley 7:00 p.m.
Oakland Fremont v. Sylmar 8:30 p.m.

East Gym

Santa Monica v. Edison 5:30 p.m.
Hoover v. Dorsey 7:00 p.m.
Long Beach Poly v. Brookside Christian 8:30 p.m.

We'll try to get some reports out of Fresno from our friends up there. Stay tuned.