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SoCalHoops Tournament News

Long Beach Fall Hoops Classic:
QBL Wins Consolation Finals--(Sept. 13, 1998)

But for a single loss to the San Diego Future Stars, QBL Lakewood would have been the team to beat. Ah, "but for." Instead of meeting up with The Hood or Compton, QBL instead got to play Belmont Shore I in the Consolation final, and it was a game, but only for about 10 minutes, and then it seemed that Belmont's hearts just weren't in it. Playing without Casey Jacobsen, who was now playing with TPI I, which lost earlier in the day to IEBP All Stars in a game won by the Inland Empire kids by 8 points, 90-82, Belmont stil had Chris Clark (6'-6" Sr. SG) from Glendora, Eric Knight (6'-2" Sr. SG), Julius Barnes (6'-1" Sr. SG/PG), Jamaal Barnes (6'-1" So. SG) Denver Lopez (6'-1" Sr. G) and Keyon Cooley (6'-7" Sr. F) from Long Beach Poly. Still Belmont was without Jack May (6'-7" Sr. F) from Ayala and Shomari Sarpy (6'-9" Sr. C) from Pomona, both of whom were on the roster but not seen in the semi-final or the consolation final. Instead, Jamaal and Julius Barnes' younger brother, a freshman who is about 5'-5" ended up playing a bit and the Barnes future at the guard spot at Rowland High School is secure.

In any event the road to the consolation for Belmont was through Say No Classic, whom Belmont defeated in the 10:15 a.m. game, and then BWBA I, who got hammered by 20 points by the Belmont boys. In that one, Nate Hair (6'-4" Sr. SG)


Nate Hair confers with teammates during a break from the pounding by Belmont Shore I	Mike Stowell of BWBA rebounds in the losing effort to Belmont Shore I

didn't play much, and neither did anyone else on the floor, and Gottlieb's squad looked like they had just had enough and wanted to go home, so Belmont obliged them, with Eric Knight going on a shooting spree, hitting for 25 points, including 5 threes. Chris Clark hit for 15 points, including 3 threes, and Trayvon Bryant shot well too. Julius Barnes was, as always a pleasure to watch, and when he pulls up for a j, and just elevates over the defenders with ease, it's really beautiful to see.


QBL Lakewood, Consolation Champions	Jason Kapono and his really cool new blond hair

QBL, defeated East-West in the 9:00 a.m. game, and then at 2:00 p.m. literally steamrolled over the TPI II team, defeating them 84-60, as Jason Kapono proved that he can play anywhere he wants. . . point guard, bringing the ball up the floor, shooting guard, hitting for 39 points, including NINE THREE POINTERS (SEVEN IN THE FIRST HALF ALONE). Amaury Fernandez (whom we are told simply hates using his real first name "Apolinar", so from now on we'll call him by his middle name, Amaury), also looks like the second coming of Jason Kapono, and he did his stint playing the 6'-9" point guard, shooting guard, center, and . . . ahem. . . just about wherever he wanted to play, and he finished with 22 points. The balance of the points were contributed pretty evenly by Andre Hazel (5'-10" Jr. PG), Aaron Hamilton (6'-5" Sr. SG/F) and others.

The Consolation final was really nothing to write home about. Unless you were Amaury Fernandez and wanted to write home to South America to tell them that you got 36 points. Kapon finished with 18 points, Hazel with 18, Matos with 4, Aaron Hamilton had 10. Belmont didn't go down without a fight, but even so, the final score was 75-62, and Belmont was really no match for the taller, stronger and deeper bench of Artesia. Eric Knight went cold in the second half, and so did his hands, but he still managed 12 points, including 3 threes. Chris Clark was one of the lone bright spots, as he played very good defense, challenging and stealing, and he hit for 15 points including three three pointers. Trayvon Bryant had 18 points, and Julius Barnes hit for 12.