CIF’s new plan forces high school basketball coaches to reschedule some tourneys and scrap others

Players warm up before the Rumble for Rosecrans Tournament in 2018. (File photo Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone)

Ever since CIF officials announced a new plan to begin high school boys basketball in March 2021, coaches have been scrambling to compile new schedules.

Basketball typically begins in November but because of the coronavirus pandemic, the sport is being grouped in a two season plan and is scheduled to start on March 12, 2021.

The plan will affect a number of tournaments which are normally held in November and December. High schools athletics can be held only if high schools have in-person instruction. As of this week, most counties are on a watch list because of the number of coronavirus cases and Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered most schools, including districts in Orange County, to begin the fall semester with on-line courses only.

However, coaches have gone ahead and made plans for the basketball season.

Sunny Hills Coach Joe Ok said that the third annual Rumble for Rosecrans Avenue will be tentatively held March 15 to March 21, 2021, pending approval from the school’s administration.

“It will again be co-hosted by Sunny Hills High School and Norwalk High School,” Ok said. “It will be a 24-team, five-game guarantee tournament with the same format as years past.”

There will be eight pools of three teams each. Each team will be placed in gold, silver and bronze division eight team bracket play for the remaining three games, Ok said.  

Committed teams are Sunny Hills, Norwalk, Sonora (the defending champion), Damien (runner-up last year), Canyon, Tesoro, Esperanza, Beckman, Fullerton, Crean Lutheran, Fillmore, La Salle, Orange Lutheran, Arlington, Claremont, Santa Fe, Warren, Hillcrest, El Toro, El Dorado, Troy, Kennedy, Yorba Linda and Schurr.

Other tournaments will either be rescheduled or cancelled this year.

Tustin High boys basketball coach Ringo Bossenmeyer said the 16-team Tustin Classic, normally held in late December, is being rescheduled for March 12-16, 2021. Bossenmeyer said he hopes to be able to announce the field later this week.

The change of seasons will also have an affect on the long-running Gary Raya So Cal Elite Classic which has been hosted by El Dorado High School and most of the Irvine high schools.

Portola and Woodbridge will instead host the first Irvine Hoops Classic the week of March 29 to April 3.

“It’s IUSD’s spring break, but we’re willing to play during that time,” said Portola basketball coach Brian Smith.  “We aren’t sure of the teams yet, because we’re still waiting on verification from teams.  We’re hoping to get anywhere between 10 to 16 teams, since some other teams have had to cancel their tourneys.

“It’s definitely going to be a challenge starting basketball in March, but at least we’re getting to play.  This will be the first time for me in 25 years that I haven’t had to coach on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s.”

Smith hopes to announce the field soon.

It’s possible that El Dorado may reschedule the Gary Raya Classic in March. El Dorado Coach Ryan Mounce could not be reached for comment.

Marina Coach Nick Racklin said Tuesday that the school was scheduled to host its first varsity tournament called Feast Week on the week of Thanksgiving. That tournament has been rescheduled.

“We are co-hosting with Foothill High School and already have a 16-team field set for March 22-27,” he said. “Hopefully we get to play that out.” 

Corona del Mar boys basketball Coach Ryan Schachter said that his highly-successful Beach Bash Tournament is being cancelled this season. Last year’s tournament finals featured Mater Dei against Pacifica Christian.

“I cancelled my event this year,” Schachter said. “Too many tourneys and not enough weeks or teams.”

Century Athletic Director Matt Cavanaugh indidicated in an earler interview that it “remains to be seen” if the long-running Century Holiday Tournament would be held in March. It’s not known the status of the basketball tournaments held at Godinez and Loara. Godinez Coach Greg Coombs has been unavailable for comment.

Cypress does not have plans to host a tournament, but Coach Derek Mitchell typically places his teams in tournaments in November and December and he, like other coaches, has had to make adjustments.

“Luckily, all of our singles are still interested in playing,” Mitchell said.  “We had to reschedule the Buena Park tournament due to their gym being currently under construction.  (Coach) Josh (Beaty) couldn’t guarantee the gym would be completed, so he will resume it next year.

“We are replacing that tournament with the St. Anthony’s Tournament in Long Beach.  That one is scheduled for March 15 through March 20. There will be good competition in that one, which will help prepare us for league and CIF.

“We also switched from the Bellflower tournament to get into Sonora’s North Orange County Championships. We are waiting to hear about the scheduling for that one soon.

“Edison is going to continue their After Thanksgiving Showcase but it will be March 12, opening night for basketball.  Unfortunately, the OC North/South Challenge put on by Tesoro was cancelled.  We will miss participating in that this season.”

Tesoro Coach Steve Garrett could not be reached for comment.

Mitchell said he was pleased to find out that there is a schedule moving forward.

“Even though we had to reschedule games and tournaments, it was a great feeling knowing that we have an official start date and that we are planning for the season,” he said. “The boys and our staff are anxious and ready to go.”

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com