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SoCalHoops Tournament News

2001 Mission Prep Christmas Classic:
First Round Matchups & Bracket--(Nov. 25, 2001)

missionprep.gif (4036 bytes) What 2001 Mission Prep Christmas Classic
Where: Cal Poly SLO--Mott Gym & Cuesta College
When December 19-22, 2001
Who Top California & National HS Teams

One of the top tournaments this season will be the 2001 Mission Prep Christmas Classic, featuring some of the best teams in Southern California and several top national teams.  The field this year will include 16 teams, including Crenshaw, Long Beach Poly, Dillard (Florida), Archbishop Carroll (Washington, D.C.) as the top seeds, and there are several other local favorites.  The unique thing about this tournament is that it features top teams from virtually every CIF division, from I (Poly, Crenshaw, etc) to V (Mission Prep).  Here's the press release for the tournament which we received from Mission's coach Tom Mott:

MISSION PREP ANNOUNCES 2001 TOURNAMENT FIELD

The 2001 Mission Prep Christmas Classic tournament field has been completed. The tournament to be held at Cal Poly’s Mott Gym and Cuesta College will run from December 19-22, 2001 will feature some of the top teams from throughout California and the nation.

Headlining the field are the Crenshaw Cougars who are led by legendary coach Willie West. Coach West has won more state titles than any coach in California history and they are the preseason #8 ranked team in all of California (calhisports.com). The Cougars will be led by 6’6" senior forward Onye Ibekwe and 6’2" point guard Marcus Williams. Crenshaw’s attempt to win back-to-back titles will not be easy as two nationally ranked teams and an East Coast power will all be looking to bring home a title of their own.

Long Beach Poly enters the season ranked #35 nationally (studentsports.com) and #3 in California (calhisports.com) and will look to bring home some Christmas Classic hardwood. The Jackrabbits already were looking like a contender in the CIF Southern Section before transfer forward Bobby Jones checked in from Dominguez of Compton. The 6-7 Jones was the leading scorer at Dominguez in last year’s state playoffs after NBA-bound center Tyson Chandler suffered an ankle injury. The frontline also will include 6-6 Reggie Butler and 6-7 Marcedes Lewis, who probably won’t join the team until late December due to football commitments. Another plus is the return of 5-10 point guard Carlos Rivers.

Dillard (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida) has won the Florida state title each of the past two seasons. They are currently ranked as high as #39 nationally (studentsports.com). Last season Dillard closed fast and expects to reload for another title bid. Senior Brandon Tobias, a 6-7, a combo forward headed to Arkansas, is the most experienced roster member.

Archbishop Carroll (Washington D.C.) will be making the cross-country trip and will be looking to take home the championship trophy as well. They are currently ranked as high as #11 nationally (hoopsusa.com) Led by some talented transfers, Carroll features two nationally ranked juniors and by seasons end could be even higher in those national rankings. Top players for Carroll include 6’2" guards Alfred Walsh and Robert McKiver, 6’9" junior center Darrian Townes and 6’7" junior forward Tyronne Beale.

Other top teams coming to the Mission Prep Christmas Classic include:

Christian (El Cajon, CA)- ranked #2 in Division 4 in preseason calhisports.com poll, led by Kansas signee Moulaye Niang, a 6’10" center.

Washington Union (Fresno, CA)- ranked #2 in Division 3 in preseason calhisports.com poll, led by super sophomore Dwight O’Neil, a 6’2 guard.

Eisenhower (Rialto, CA)- ranked #10 in californiapreps.com preseason poll, led by 6’7" Johnny Dukes, 6’5" Cory McJimson, 6’5" Sean Marshall

JW North (Riverside, CA) – CIF Southern Section semifinalist in 2001

Bakersfield (Bakersfield, CA) – One of top young teams in the valley

Edison (Fresno, CA) - One of most athletic teams in the tournament

Sylmar (Los Angles, CA) – Led by 6’5" Louis Darby

Kennedy (Richmond, CA) – Very hard-nosed and athletic squad

Lompoc (Lompoc, CA) – Led by highly ranked Joel Smith , a 6’6" forward

Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara, CA) – One of top teams in Southern Section over the past two seasons

Canyon (Anaheim, CA) – Led by high scoring 6’3" shooting guard Deron Putnam

Mission Prep (San Luis Obispo, CA) – ranked #6 in Division 5 preseason calhisports.com poll, led by 6’9" Souleymane Traore, 6’3" Gerald Purify and 5’7" Brent Walker

In addition to the field information, Coach Mott also gave us the first round matchups and a tournament bracket.  Here are the matchups

Games @ Cuesta College, December 19, 2001

Game #1   9:30 AM   Sylmar vs. Bakersfield
Game #2   11:00 AM   JW North vs. Dillard
Game #3   12:30 PM   Edison vs. Eisehnower
Game #4   2:00 PM   Christian vs. Washington Union

Games @ Cal Poly, December 19, 2001

Game #5   5:00 PM   Kennedy vs. Archbishop Carroll
Game #6   6:30 PM   Santa Barbara vs. Crenshaw
Game #7   8:00 PM   Lompoc vs. Mission Prep
Game #8   9:30 PM   Canyon vs. Long Beach Poly

Other highlights of the tournament will include:

There will be a slam dunk contest and three point shootout on Friday, December 21st .

D-Kal Engineering will be sponsoring a $10,000 half court shot, which will be held on December 21st.

Mike Boogie, from the CBS television show Big Brother II will be the master of ceremony for the Friday night activities.

Thursday will be "kids day" where all kids under 18 will be admitted free of charge.

Jamba Juice will be on-site each day of the tournament providing Jamba Juice Smoothies.

Youth basketball games will be played during the half times of most of the high school games.

The host of the Christmas Classic will once again be Mission Prep. Games will be played at Cuesta College on Wednesday, December 19th from 9:00AM – 4:00 PM, and then the tournament will move to Cal Poly’s Mott Gym for the evening session on December 19th and the remainder of the tournament. For more information contact Mission Prep head coach Tom Mott @ (805) 543-2131 x16.

The bracket that Coach Mott's sent us looked a bit different, but that's just because it was laid out slightly differently than most of the brackets you and we are used to seeing in high school (probably just a different variety of software used to develop the actual bracket grid.  So, we've taken Coach Mott's bracket and turned it into the kind of bracket that permits us to avoid large amounts of redesigning....in other words, we're going to use the standard layout for the grid. 

Sat 12/22 Fri 12/21 Thurs 12/20 Wed. 12/19 Thurs 12/20 Fri 12/21 Sat 12/22

Winner #19
Consolation
Championship
Game #28
1:30 p.m.
@ Cal Poly
Winner #20

Winner #11
Game #20
1:30 p.m.
@ Cal Poly
Winner #12

 Loser #6
Game #11
12:30 p.m.
@ Cal Poly
Loser #4		 Crenshaw
Game 6
6:30 p.m.
@ Cal Poly
Santa Barbara

Winner #6
Game #15
6:30 p.m.
@ Cal Poly
Winner #4

Winner #15
Game #24
7:30 p.m.
@ Cal Poly
Winner #16

Winner #24
Championship
Game #32
@ Cal Poly
7:30 p.m.
Winner #23
Washington Union
Game 4
2:00 p.m.
@ Cuesta
El Cajon Christian
Loser #7
Game #12
2:00 p.m.
@ Cal Poly
Loser #5		 Lompoc
Game 7
8:00 p.m.
@ Cal Poly
Mission Prep

Winner #7
Game #16
8:00 p.m.
@ Cal Poly
Winner #5
Kennedy
Game 5
5:00 p.m.
@ Cal Poly
Archbishop Carroll

Winner #9
Game #19
12:00 p.m.
@ Cal Poly
Winner #10

 Loser #2
Game #9
9:30 a.m.
@ Cal Poly
Loser #3		 JW North
Game 2
11:00 a.m.
@ Cuesta
Dillard

Winner #2
Game #13
3:30 p.m.
@ Cal Poly
Winner #3

Winner #15
Game #23
6:00 p.m.
@ Cal Poly
Winner #16
Edison
Game 3
12:30 p.m.
@ Cuesta
Eisenhower
Loser #1
Game #10
11:00 a.m.
@ Cal Poly.
Loser #8		 Sylmar
Game 1
9:30 a.m.
@ Cuesta
Bakersfield

Winner #1
Game #14
8:00 p.m.
@ Cal Poly
Winner #8
Canyon
Game 8
9:30 p.m.
@ Cal Poly
Long Beach Poly

Consolation/Loser's Bracket Games

Sat 12/22

Fri 12/21

   Sat 12/22  

Fri 12/21

Sat 12/22
Winner #17
Game 26
10:30 a.m.
@ Cal Poly
Winner #18		 Loser #9
Game 17
9:00 a.m.
@ Cal Poly
Loser #10

missionprep.gif (4036 bytes)

 Loser #23
Game #31
Third Place
6:00 p.m.
Loser #24		 missionprep.gif (4036 bytes) Loser #13
Game 21
3:00 p.m.
@ Cal Poly
Loser #14

Winner #21
Game #30
4:30 p.m.
@ Cal Poly
Winner #22
Loser #11
Game 18
10:30 a.m.
@ Cal Poly
Loser #12		 Loser #15
Game 22
4:30 p.m.
@ Cal Poly
Loser #16
Loser #19
Game #27
12:00 p.m.
Loser #20
Loser #17
Game 25
9:00 a.m.
Loser #18		     Loser #21
Game #29
3:00 p.m.
@ Cal Poly
Loser #22

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