Followers of local high school boys basketball are in for a treat the next few days. They can see four teams play in the same tournament.
Carpinteria High’s Jim Bashore Holiday Cage Classic will feature San Marcos, Santa Barbara, Bishop Diego and the host Warriors in its 14-team field. County teams Santa Ynez, Cabrillo and Orcutt Academy are also entered in the four-day bracketed tournament that tips off at 12:30 p.m. on Friday and continues Saturday, Monday and Tuesday.
The championship game is set for 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
Rounding out the field are Channel Islands, Rio Mesa, Fillmore, Hueneme, Nipomo and Arroyo Grande. Arroyo Grande is the defending Pac-7 League champion and reached the CIF Finals last year. Rio Mesa won the Pacific View League last season.
Heading into the week, Santa Barbara was unbeaten at 4-0 and San Marcos 5-3, Bishop Diego 2-1 and Carpinteria 2-3.
The Warriors gave themselves a tough opener, playing San Marcos on Friday at 8 p.m. The Royals are coming off a runner-up finish at the Coast Union Tournament.
Santa Barbara tips off the Bashore in its home gym against Nipomo at 7 p.m.
Bishop Diego plays Tri-Valley League rival Nordhoff in a 2 p.m. opener at the Carpinteria gym.
Here are events worth checking out:
FRIDAY
Boys soccer: Royal at Carpinteria, 6 p.m. — These are two perennially strong programs in the CIF-SS.
Boys soccer: Bishop Diego at Laguna Blanca, 3:15 p.m. — Former UCSB star Ivan Becerra takes his Cardinals to Hope Ranch for a non-league rivalry game.
Girls water polo: Edison at Santa Barbara, 3 p.m. — After dropping its first two matches against the top-two ranked teams in CIF Division 1, the third-ranked Dons play host to the No. 8 team in the division.
Women’s basketball: William Jessup at Westmont, 5:30 p.m. — Returning NAIA Player of the year Tugce Canitez and the Warriors (7-1) are back in action after suffering their first loss and taking their final exams.
Men’s basketball: Bethesda at Westmont, 7:30 p.m. — The Warriors look to continue their winning ways. Not counting an exhibition loss at Division 1 Cal State Bakersfield, Westmont has won four in a row.
SATURDAY
Men’s basketball: San Diego Christian at UCSB, 7 p.m. — The Gauchos go from playing the 17th-ranked team in NCAA Division 1 (San Diego State) to facing a NAIA team. But it’s all about the young team getting better before Big West play.
Girls water polo: Edison at Dos Pueblos, Noon — It’s No. 7 vs. No. 8 in this Division 1 non-league water polo clash at the Elings Aquatic Center.
Girls water polo: Los Alamitos at Santa Barbara, Noon — The Dons continue their tour of the top-10 teams in CIF Division 1, taking on the No. 5 Griffins.
MONDAY
Boys soccer: Carpinteria at Dos Pueblos, 3:15 p.m. — A good matchup between local teams before the holidays.
Speaker Series: An evening with Tim Vom Steeg and Todd Rogers, 7 p.m. Laguna Blanca gym: The successful UCSB men’s soccer coach and the 2008 beach volleyball Olympic gold medalist will speak on the importance of high school sports, college recruiting and their experiences at Laguna Blanca. Both coached at the school before hitting the big time. Admission is free.
WEDNESDAY
Girls basketball: The Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions: This tourney, hosted by Santa Barbara High, annually features some of the best teams in CIF. Orange Lutheran is the Gold Division’s No. 1 seed. The Lancers have a veteran squad and is ranked fourth in Orange County. Bishop Montgomery, a perennial CIF power, is seeded second. Other top programs entered are Oak Park, Peninsula, Ventura and Harvard Westlake. The area teams playing in the bracketed Gold Division are the host Dons, Dos Pueblos, Righetti and Santa Ynez. The Dons open on Wednesday, Dec. 19 at 4:30 p.m. against St. Bonaventure, while the Chargers play Harvard Westlake at Sovine Gym that day at 6 p.m. The Green Division will be a six-team round-robin event at San Marcos High.
