The City of Twentynine Palms played host to the 58th Annual Boys’ and 38th Annual Girls’ Basketball Tournament this past weekend, with 47 teams competing for championships in seven divisions played out at local gymnasiums.
In the third- and fourth-grade boys’ division, Twentynine Palms All-Stars won their first game against Yucca Valley, but they were knocked out of the tournament by eventual champion Redondo Beach in their next game. In the girls’ division, minus a Twentynine Palms team, Redondo Beach took home the honors of champs.
The fifth- and sixth-grade boys’ division had eight teams competing to become tournament champions. The boys from Twentynine Palms were able to hold their own, beating Parker, Arizona, on Friday night and advancing to take on Redondo Beach in the semis. Although a valiant effort, the fifth- and sixth-grade boys came up a couple baskets short and were knocked out of the tournament. In the girls’ fifth- and sixth-grade division, the Twentynine Palms girls won their first game against Beaumont and had to face a big team in the Las Vegas Bulldogs. In a hard-fought back-and-forth game. the Twentynine Palms girls came up short but still had a chance to battle their way back in the double elimination bracket. And that they did, beating the cross-basin rival team from Yucca Valley. Twentynine Palms set up a rematch with Las Vegas. Unfortunately, the outcome remained the same and our girls came in second place.
In the seventh-grade division, the Twentynine Palms boys lost two heartbreakers in the last seconds against teams from Parker, Arizona, and Goodyear, Arizona. Goodyear would go on and lose to Beaumont in a double overtime championship game.
The eighth-grade boys’ division saw two teams from Twentynine Palms. With an out-of-town team dropping out last minute, and a change in the bracket, the two teams would now have to play each other in the second round, after winning their first games of the tournament. In a back-and-forth game, the Twentynine Palms B team knocked out the A team winning by one point, and earned their way in to the championship game. In the championship game, the second team was overmatched against the champion Redondo Beach A team, and came in second place.
The Twentynine Palms eighth-grade girls won the opening game of the tournament against Yucca Valley on Friday night. Saturday’s game would prove to be a tougher matchup against the Las Vegas Bulldogs, who came away with the victory in the semifinals. The eighth-grade girls would go on to play the Redondo Beach all stars in the third-place game, unfortunately coming up short in the defeat.
TWENTYNINE PALMS ALL-TOURNAMENT SELECTIONS
Raymond Martinez, Juan Duran, Kate Bobadilla and Faith Burdette were selected to the All-Tournament teams for their respective divisions.
HUGH “CHIEF” JONES
The annual tournament concludes with the naming of the Hugh “Chief” Jones trophy winner. Every year an eighth-grade boy is named the recipient of the trophy given for outstanding sportsmanship, attitude and excelling in school. School officials and parks and recreation staff vote on all eighth-graders nominated for this award. This year congratulations are due to Donavin Barrett, a well-deserved recipient for the 2016 Hugh “Chief” Jones award.
DANA CASEY AWARD
Equivalent to the Hugh “Chief” Jones award, the Dana Casey Award is awarded to an eighth-grade girl for outstanding sportsmanship, attitude and excelling in school. School officials and parks and recreation staff vote on all eighth-graders nominated for this award. This year congratulations are due to Victoria Pacheco, the recipient of the 2016 Dana Casey award.
JOHN BASS AWARD
The John Bass Award is also presented annually to the athlete who showed superior sportsmanship on and off the court. Voted on by officials and parks and recreation staff, this year’s recipient was Addison Melone from Las Vegas. This is the second time the award has been presented to a girl.
