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SoCalHoops Showcase News

Big Showdown: Nike Extravaganza VI
This Weekend At Pyramid--(Jan. 25, 2001)

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Nike
Extravaganza
VI
Jan 27, 2001
The Pyramid

What: Nike Extravaganza V
When: Saturday, January 27, 2001
Where: Long Beach State--The Pyramid
Time: Two Sessions
8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. --Morning/Afternoon Session
4:30 p.m. -- 10:30 p.m. (approx end time)--Evening Session
Who: 18 of the top teams in the West

4:30 p.m.    Long Beach Poly vs Ocean View
6:00 p.m.    Villa Park vs Westchester
7:30 p.m.    Mater Dei vs Miami Christian
9:00 p.m.    Dominguez vs Concord DeLaSalle
and 8 other top matchups throughout the day

Welcome back to the Nike Extravaganza VI, one of the best and biggest, and certainly the next to last stop on the schedule before the playoffs for many of the top teams in SoCal,  NorCal, Vegas (well, there's one last Extravaganza event next weekend at Lynwood, but for some this will be the last).   While there won't be a "big showdown" again this year involving Oak Hill, there will be some other top matchups, involving several nationally ranked teams.   Four of the participating teams are currently ranked among USA Today's Top 25-- Westchester at No. 5, Dominguez at No. 9, Mater Dei at 16, and Concord De La Salle at No. 23.   On the Fox Fab 50 Poll (which probably has a much better pulse on the West now that Dave Krieder isn't at USA Today any longer), Mater Dei is ranked No. 5, Westchester at No. 6, Domginuez at 17, and De La Sale is at No. 49.   But the USA Today Western Regional rankings tell a much better story of who will be playing in this event relative to other top teams you're likely to see here on the West Coast, and 4 of the top 5 will be there, 6 out of 10:  

USA Today Western Regional Rankings.

1. Westchester, Los Angeles (15-1)
2. Dominguez, Compton, Calif. (14-2)
3. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (17-2)

4. Seattle Prep (13-0)
5. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (8-3)
6. Clovis West, Fresno, Calif. (15-2)
7. St. Mary's, Phoenix (19-3)
8. Mayfair, Lakewood, Calif. (13-2)
9. Jefferson, Portland, Ore. (11-2)
10. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (16-2)

Which means that of the 18 teams playing, 4 of the Top 10 in the West will be there, and if one were to take that Top 10 to a top 20, you'd likely find at least 5 more such that this would really be an event with at least 10 of the top teams in the West. . .additional teams who are clearly on the verge of making some serious noise within their own playoff divisions, like Fairfax, or Capo Valley, or Long Beach Poly (which always has a way of coming together just at the right time), or Santa Margarita. . .

There isn't a really bad game in the schedule this year.  Here it is:

Morning Session

8:30 a.m.      Servite vs Glendora
10:00 a.m.    Fairfax vs Los Alamitos
11:30 a.m.    St. John Bosco vs Costa Mesa
1:00 p.m.      Durango (Las Vegas) vs Capistrano Valley
2:30 p.m.     Crenshaw vs Santa Margarita

Evening session

4:30 p.m.    Long Beach Poly vs Ocean View
6:00 p.m.    Villa Park vs Westchester
7:30 p.m.    Mater Dei vs Miami Christian
9:00 p.m.    Dominguez vs Concord DeLaSalle

The Extravaganza will be run in two separate sessions, and there wil be a break between the morning and evening sessions and the gym will be cleared, so it will be necessary to purchase two separate admissions for each session.  Bummer, but that's the way it goes.

While there will be excellent matchups throughout the day, the headline event this year really involves the entire evening session, with some of the top players in the country.  We won't have the time to feature player profiles or to post the team rosters this year, but this is going to be a great event, and you won't want to miss it.  It's also a great way for these teams to begin to ramp up for the playoffs, and a terrific way to spend a Saturday if you're a basketball fan, scout, or just curious, and want to take a look at one of the few remaining games of Tyson Chandler's high school career.   And the Pyramid is a great venue to see these games, parking is plentiful, and Long Beach is easy to get to, even if it's raining like crazy outside. . . But remember, seating is limited so plan to get there early and stay all day. . . This is an event you don't want to miss.

See you there.

 The Swish Award
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