glendora triple crown today

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SoCalHoops Tournament News

Glendora Triple Crown
Set For Tonight--(Dec. 1, 1999)

What: Glendora Triple Crown

Where: Glendora High School
When: Tonight, December 1, 1999
Who: Six Great Matchups

The Glendora Triple Crown will take place today at Glendora High School, starting at 5:00 p.m. with matchups between Nogales and Ocean View, followed by a terrific matchup between two of the top schools in SoCal, Santa Barbara and Mater Dei, and finally, as the third game of the evening, Glendora will tip off against Orange at 8:00 p.m. Here's what you'll see in each game:

Nogales v. Ocean View--5:00 p.m.

We only know a little about Nogales, mostly from the previews we've read of them in the local media, but we do know that coach Bob Withers is still pretty high over last year's league title and Division I-A quarterfinal appearance. While scorers Adam Talley and Denver Lopez are gone, 6-3 wing Ronald Quinine (12.5 ppg) returns. Quinine's tremendous athletic ability and excellent defensive skills must be complemented by senior leadership this season. Guards Antoine Chandler and Quentin Rogers should have expanded roles this season, and two transfers should also figure in. Aaron Boyd, a 6-3 guard from Montclair, and Terrell Williams, a guard from Covina, will contribute. Also, watch junior guard Kevin Carson.

As for Ocean View, Jim Harris returns Ryan Westbrook (6'-3" Sr. SG), Jeremiah Bell (6'-4" Sr. F), Neal Smith (6'-7" Jr. C), and he's also got a couple of newcomeers, including Artesia transfer Marques Crane (6'-4" Jr. SG/SF) and Jason Roth (6'-5" Jr. C). Ocean View finished first in the Golden West League last season and lost to Inglewood in the Division II-A semifinals. They are young and relatively inexperienced this year, and none of the returning guys were starters, but Westbrook is an excellent shooter and a good ballhandler, and Harris has said "He's the best ballhandler no one knows about." The Orange County Register has picked them to finish first in the league this year again and they may well pull it off.

Santa Barbara v. Mater Dei--6:30 p.m.

We've already featured previews of Santa Barbara and Mater Dei, so check those previews so you'll know what to expect and who to look for. The only big exception will be that Dommanic Ingerson is not slated to play for Santa Barbara tonight (barring a last minute ruling by the CIF) due to concerns over eligibility (he moved from Oakland over the summer and the CIF has not yet approved his move due to residency requirements). Even without Dommanic though, this will still be a great game and you'll get a chance to see Mater Dei's quickness, size and speed and how they matchup against the Dons' own quickness and great shooting.

Glendora v. Orange--8:00 p.m.

Glendora has won five of the past six league titles, but will get serious challenges from Upland and Claremont. Four of Glendora's five starters are gone most notably state player of the year and McDonald's All-American Casey Jacobsen. Twins Chad and Chris Clark and 6-foot-9 center Michael Ahmad are also gone, but coach Mike LeDuc said the players that are left gained valuable experience as Glendora reached the CIF-Southern Section Division I-A title game a second consecutive season. "They understand what it takes to be successful, they understand what they need to do, and that experience can only help you," LeDuc said. "I'm sure they're very much looking forward to the opportunity to show they're capable of succeeding, too." Senior guard Jason Davis, a part-time starter last season, figures to be the Tartans' main scorer this season. Point guard Bruce Hatch and 6-6 center Duncan Reid return, and Scott Giles and Graham Miller will have expanded roles. Guard Lauren Smith has transferred in from South Hills and should also figure heavily in the rotation. Sophomores Michael Mehanna and Spencer Foster and 6-5 senior Charlie Allen are the main additions from lower-level teams.

As for Orange, we've done a preview of the team, but it probably bears repeating here that they will probably struggle to match up well against this new Glendora team of relative unknowns; with the loss of Stephen Miller, their best shooter, Orange is new, young and completely untested against any serious competition. Should be interesting to see how they do, and equally interesting to see if anyone can step up at Glendora to fill the shoes that Casey Jacobsen left behind.

If you're planning to attend, be sure to get there early because the place holds only 2500 people. In the days when Casey Jacobsen was there, that was barely enough and they've been turning people away at the doors for years in Glendora; it's a fact that it's one of the most well supported programs in the State. Admittedly, the big matchup is at 6:00 p.m., but to be on the safe side, get there early.

Tickets are $5.00 ($2.50 for students) at the door. The school is located at 1600 East Foothill Blvd, Glendora, CA, just off the 210 Freeeway. Exit at Auto Center Drive and take that North to Lone Hill Road, then turn right on Foothill and continue until you get to the school. Here's a map so you can find your way there without getting lost:

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See you there.