December 2007 Archives

Chaffey College women’s basketball coach Gary Plunkett thought he had a talented crop of freshmen coming in,  so he thought this year’s version of the Panthers would be able to pick right up where last year’s left off. So far that has been the case.

The Panthers (13-3) head into the heart of the Foothill Conference schedule as one of the favorites, along with Mt. San Jacinto and San Bernardino Valley College.

Chaffey has competed in four tournaments, winning one, finishing second once and winning the consolation bracket twice. The Panthers are ranked 15th in the state and ninth in the South.

“I had high hopes and so far they have been fulfilled,” Plunkett said. “I felt like we had some really skilled players coming in, especially at the perimeter. They have been able to adapt quickly so I am very pleased.”

The veteran is sophomore guard Christina Warren (15.9 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game, 2 assists per game, 1.5 steals per game), who has earned all-tournament honors in three of Chaffey’s four events and is a returning all-conference selection.

But the core of newcomers that Plunkett is excited about is led by freshmen guards Keisha Mackall (Miller HS) and Tamesha Jackson (Upland HS). Mackall (12.3 ppg, 4 apg, 2.8 spg) has also earned three all-tournament nods, including an MVP selection at Irvine Valley. Jackson (11.9 ppg, 3.9 apg, 3.4 rpg), third on the team in scoring, was a coveted recruit also sought after by local rivals Citrus and Mt. San Antonio College.

“Tamesha is the better athlete. She has got that quick first step,” Plunkett said. “Keisha has that court savvy and more big-game experience having played for a CIF championship.”

While that trio has provided the scoring punch, Plunkett has also gotten productivity in the paint from the other two starters — freshmen Johnshunay Parsons (7.6 rpg) and Aundria Anderson (7.6 rpg, 9.2 ppg).

The Panthers return to the court at 1 p.m. Saturday with a road game at Victor Valley. The next home game will be Jan. 5 against Barstow. While Plunkett was quick in pointing out the three frontrunners, he added that Antelope Valley and Rio Hondo could also be a factor.

“We have to see how it all plays out, but there should be some great games,” he said.

By Michelle Gardner

Staff Writer

Laura Beeman was outside Selland Arena in Fresno, talking on her cell phone moments after her Mt. San Antonio College women’s basketball team won a state tournament semifinal game, seeking information on thenext opponent.
She was approached by 6-foot-2 Carmen Deal, a freshman at Pasadena City College, who wanted to transfer.
Beeman knew Deal well, having played against her twice in the 2006-07 season. Beeman told the player she needed to talk to her coach about leaving and enroll at Mt. SAC before she could speak with her.
Deal did that and showed up in the fall, bringing with her an attitude other coaches had warned Beeman about. But Beeman didn’t turn the player away. She welcomed the chance to make a difference.
It has paid off again as Deal has transformed into a solid team player on and off the court.
“That’s my specialty,” said Beeman. “I like taking these kids that are considered problems and working with them. You give them your soul, they’ll give you theirs back.”
Beeman’s caring, tough-love approach has worked. The San Bernardino native is in her 13th year heading the Mt. SAC program. She has 307 career wins, four 30-win seasons and eight 20-win seasons, highlighted by three state titles in the last four years.
The Mounties (15-1) face San Bernardino Valley College (7-2) at 5:30 tonight.
While she is pleased with the wins, it is the graduation rate and her success advancing players that she is most proud of. Lauren Ervin, the cornerstone of the state title team in 2006, is the leading scorer at Arkansas and hasn’t forgotten her first conversation with Beeman.
“She told me not to expect any special treatment just because I had athletic ability. If I didn’t plan on going to class or working hard, I better go play somewhere else,” Ervin said. “A lot of coaches say that, but they don’t mean it. I knew better than to test her because if you get in her doghouse it’s hard to get out.”
Beeman, 39, lives in Huntington Beach but hasn’t forgotten her roots. Parents Jerry and Judy still live in San Bernardino and are regulars at most games along with her 92-year-old grandmother Lois.
Brother Bobby took over the the pharmacy business which still bears the family name. Laura also has two sisters, Lisa and Cheryl.
She admits she doesn’t get back as often as she would like, especially during the season but did return last week to help decorate the family Christmas tree.
Beeman attended San Gorgonio High School as a freshman, then transferred to San Bernardino High School where she played for three years.
She signed early with Division I Weber State but a serious knee injury derailed that plan. Instead she played close to home at UC Riverside, then coached by Nancy Simpson, who later spent 12 years at Cal State San Bernardino.
Beeman decided to end her playing career for good after a second knee injury that season but Darryl Smith, an assistant coach at Cal State, tracked her down at the mall where she was working and convinced her to give it one last shot.
“I really had no intention of playing again,” Beeman said. “Two knee injuries had me convinced basketball was not going to be part of my future.”
Beeman relented and played two years for the Coyotes, helping them to a 24-4 mark and West Regional final in 1990. She is second in career assists (379 in her two years and also has the second and third-best numbers for assists in a season, 203 (1989-90) and 176 (1990-91.
She finished her degree in business marketing but opted not to play as a senior.
“I just lost my love of the game,” she said. “I didn’t want to play if my heart wasn’t totally in it. I don’t like taking on something unless I am going to give it my absolute best.”
After graduating she took a job in marketing and promotions with the High Desert Mavericks baseball team in its inaugural season.
But she was back in the game a year later when an assistant at the University of Redlands asked her to work for the women’s team as a graduate assistant. She did that for two years while pursuing a masters.
She first applied for the Mt. SAC job when it opened in 1994. It was given to Sherry Stevenson but Beeman was asked to stay on as an assistant. A year later the school opened the job again and Beeman was given the nod.
She had a five-year plan in place, with her biggest adjustment the classroom environment. The team went a respectable 17-12 her first year.
“I wasn’t new to basketball but I was new to the academic scene,” she said. “I had never taught in high school, forget college.”
Beeman said a turning point came in 1999 when she brought in Brian Crichlow as her lead assistant. He had been serving as the head girls coach at Pomona and became familar with Beeman when she started recruiting some of his players.
Crichlow said Beeman’s work ethic is contagious.
“You come in here and she has a practice plan laid out, a scouting report on the next opponent. She is watching film,” he said. “It makes you want to dive right in too because you can see how much work she has already put in before you even get there.”
Beeman has accomplished everything she can at the ciommunity college level and admits she would never count out moving on to a four-year institution, but isn’t actively seeking the opportunity.
She won’t consider a move unless it’s the perfect job for her.
“If it were the right time, the right place and the right situation and I knew I was going to have complete control of the program, yes, I would absolutely think about it,” Beeman said. “But I can also see myself being a Mountie the rest of my life.”

Freshman guard Winston Robinson scored 27 points, including an 11-for-12 showing from the free-throw line as Chaffey downed Pasadena City College 100-93 Wednesday night in a non-conference game. It was the fourth straight win for the Panthers.

Sophomore guard Brandon Clemons contributed 15 points including three 3-pointers for Chaffey, which entered as the second-highest scoring team in the state.

Chaffey (8-5) will play in a tournament at College of the Desert Dec. 27-29.

Pasadena dropped to 1-9 on the season.

By Michelle Gardner

Staff Writer

The San Bernardino Valley College women’s basketball team will be battle tested by the time Foothill Conference play starts. The Wolverines (7-2) lost Saturday to No. 5 Pasadena (11-1), the same foe that handed them their first loss of the year.

The going gets tougher as SBVC travels to No. 2 Mt. SAC (15-1) for a 5:30 p.m. game Friday against the defending state champion Mounties. Then comes a game with No. 11 Saddleback (5-0).

SBVC had trouble with Pasadena’s size up front, an advantage that Mt. SAC will have as well. Crebbin said she will be looking for more production from her guards.

“We have to get more from our guards, better shots, more shots. That’s where our strength is,” coach Susan Crebbin said. “Then if they start making some of those, it takes pressure off the girls up front. We don’t have the size to go toe-to-toe with them in the paint.”

The Wolverines are ranked 20th in the state and 10th in Southern California. Shy Walter (13.3) is the team’s leading scorer, with Simeone Baker (7.3) the top rebounder. Jasmine Marshall (Arroyo Valley) leads the team in assists and steals. SBVC boasts the top defense in the state, allowing just 47.6 points per game.

CHRISTINA WARREN
Chaffey College
Basketball
The lowdown: The 5-foot-9 sophomore guard has helped the Panthers to a 9-2 record ad No. 16 state ranking. Is averaging 16.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.9 steals. Has scored more than 20 points three times with a high of 26 coming against Cerro Coso. Best rebounding effort was 10 against Cuesta. Averaged 11.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.8 steals as a freshman, earning first-team all-conference honors. Was MVP of two tournaments during the regular season.
Age: 19
Hometown: Rancho Cucamonga
High school: Los Osos, 2006
Major: General ed
Favorite athlete: Brittani Smith (a former teammate at Chaffey)
Favorite team: Chaffey Panthers
Role model: My mom
Can’t miss TV show: America’s Next Top Model
Most embarrassing moment: Falling in front of everyone at practice
Person most influential in your athletic success: My little sister Cierra
Celebrity you most want to meet: Chris Brown
Favorite Food: Cookie Dough ice cream
Favorite movie: Rush Hour 2
Last good book you read: Addicted
Other hobbies: Shopping
Favorite vacation spot: the beach
What’s in your CD player/iPod: Lloyd
Pre-game ritual or superstition: Eat a lot and drink a smoothie.
Best advice anyone has given you: Don’t ever give up when things get tough, continue to push yourself to be the best you can be.
What do you want to be doing in five years: Finishing school.

- Compiled by Michelle Gardner

Sophomore guard Lewis Leonard tossed in 27 points with five rebounds and two steals to lead the Wolverines (2-7) past the Riverside All-Stars 104-92 in consolation bracket play of the Wells Fargo Holiday Classic.

Sophomore point guard Jacob Letson had a season-high 22 points with six assists. Johnny Barnes and Frank Ragsdale tallied 16 apiece.

SBVC continues consolation bracket play today with a noon game against Pasadena City College.

Six players finished in double figures as the Citrus College men’s basketball team stayed unbeaten and advanced in the Wells Fargo Holiday Classic, beating College of the Desert 105-82 Wednesday in first round play.

The Owls (11-0), ranked seventh in the state and fourth in Southern California, play Long Beach City today at 1 p.m. Long Beach advanced with a 57-47 win earlier in the day over Saddleback.

Freshman guard A.J. Gasporra led the Citrus effort with 16 points while sophomore guard Buchi Awaji added 15 and sophomore forwward Richard Frolich 12.

Ayala graduate Darren Moore, Ralph Monday and Virgil Buensuceso each chipped in with 11 with Monday also grabbing eight rebounds and Buensuceso dishing out six assists and getting three steals.

Citrus shot 57.7 percent (41-for-71) while holding Desert, out of the Foothill Conference, to 42.9 percent (33-for-77).
In a consolation bracket game today at 2 p.m.

In other games Wednesday San Diego City beat Los Angeles Pierce 64-59 and Long Beach slipped past Saddleback 57-47.

In today's consolation bracket game San Bernardino Valley College (1-7) will face the Riverside All-Stars. The Wolverines lost their first round game to East Los Angeles on Tuesday 89-77.

By Michelle Gardner

Staff Writer

 

Mt. SAC women’s basketball coach Laura Beeman admits her team’s 72-61 victory over Ventura on Nov. 25 had special meaning. It wasn’t because it came in the championship game of the Ventura Tournament of Champions. It marked the 300th career victory for Beeman, in her 13th year directing the team.

School adminstrators surprised the veteran coach with a bouquet of flowers and a cake at the team’s next practice. The original plan was to honor her at the next home game but that was three weeks off.
Beeman shrugged off the individual accomplishment and passed along praise to her coaching staff. Top assistant Brian Crichlow has been with her for nine years.

“It really is a group accomplishment,” she said. “As the head coach you’re on the chopping block if you’re not winning and you get all the praise if you do things right. But I see us developing players and building a strong program as a coaching staff.”

The Mounties, ranked first in the state, should make a strong bid for their third consecutive  state title and fourth in five years. They are off to a 12-1 start, the lone loss coming to Orange Coast 63-57 in the season opener, the school’s first loss at home in more than two years.

Beeman chalks up that loss primarily to the fact that it was the Mounties first game with 11 newcomers on her 15-player roster. She doesn’t worry much about a loss.

“We’re about graduating our players and getting them to the next level,” she said. “And we want to have a winning program. You graduate your players and win a state title and no one is going to remember how many games you lost.”

The team is led by sophomore guard Jazlyn Davis (16.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 3.4 apg), 6-foot-2 sophomore forward Carmen Deal (15.4 ppg, 11 rpg 2.4 bpg) and freshman guard Blaire Egardo (15 ppg, 4 rpg).

 

Four players finished in double figures as host Riverside Community College edged the Riverside All-Stars 82-80 in first round play at the 38th annual Wells Fargo Holiday Classic Tuesday night. That game was the last of four on the day.

Other winners were Fullerton, Mt. San Jacinto and East Los Angeles. The host Tigers (8-2) advance to play East Los Angeles in the 7 p.m. game Thursday night.

RCC was led by Keiran Nunley who tallied 13 points, eight rebounds and three steals. Anthony Dandy and Anthony Scott contributed 12 each with Dandy, a San Gorgonio High School graduate, also collecting five rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Cajon product James Simmons aided the cause with six assists and three steals.

Treno Butler headed the effort of the all-star team with 20 points. Brian Hooks added 15 with five rebounds and four assists.

The tournament continues today with Long Beach City playing Saddleback at 1 p.m., College of the Desert squaring off with unbeaten Citrus at 3 p.m., Los Angeles Pierce looking for its first win against San Diego City at 5 p.m. and Compton playing Antelope Valley at 7 p.m.

 

BY Michelle Gardner
Staff Writer

RIVERSIDE - All season San Bernardino Valley College basketball coach Gerry Wright has been waiting for someone other than his big two to step up. He’s still waiting.

Sophomores Johnny Barnes and Lewis Leonard combined for 57 points and 18 rebounds but it wasn’t enough as the Wolverines (1-7) fell to East Los Angeles 88-79 in first round action at the Wells Fargo Holiday Classic Tuesday at Riverside Community College.

The two came in averaging a combined 50 points but that hasn’t translated to many wins.

“We’re not getting enough production out of other guys,” said a frustrated Wright. “ They don’t want to be the guys taking all the shots and they are trying to involve others but they’re the only guys that have been making things happen.”

The Wolverines could never get over the hump. Their only lead of the game came at 12-11 when Leonard hit a jumper from the baseline. But that lead didn’t last long as the Huskies Damien Riley converted a three-point play at the other ends seconds later.

East L.A. (5-5) led by as many as 11 in the first half and was up 44-38 as Leonard and Barnes tallied 30 of those 38. The Huskies biggest lead of the second half came at 66-46 with 11:06 to go. SBVC got back within nine at 76-67 with 2:50 to play but East L.A. lived at the free-throw line the rest of the night, knocking down 13 of 14 tries.

“We’re doing all we can but two people can’t outplay 10 people,” Barnes said. “Everyone has to bring the same heart and the same passion for us to get it done.”

Barnes ended up with 34 points (15-for-32) from the field) and eight rebounds. While most of his points came in the paint, he did knock down three 3-pointers including back-to-back ones down the stretch with SBVC trying to rally.

Leonard, who played all 40 minutes, added 23 points and 10 rebounds with six assists and two steals. He went 8-for-24 but was 3-for-11 from long distance w ith some of his shots desperate attempts to make things happen.

Point guard Jacob Letson had nine points but was in foul trouble the entire game, picking up his fourth 1:11 into the second half and his fifth with 10:10 to go.

Wright said he does see potential in Sylvester Burel, who played basketball at Redlands East Valley but did not play at SBVC last season. He is just coming off football and isn’t in prime basketball shape yet but still contributed four points, five rebounds and a steal in 15 minutes.

“Right now its the whopped dog syndrome. You can only take so many before you just grimace and get ready for it,” Wright said. “I still think we have potential but we have to figure it out before conference starts.”
East Los Angeles, which shot 56 percent (28-for-50), had six players ion double figures with 6-10 Richard Westphain netting a team-high 17.

SBVC, which shot 50.5 percent (32-for-79), will play at 2 p.m. Thursday in a consolation bracket game.

 

In the first two games of the day Mt. San Jacinto (7-1) defeated Palomar 87-76 and Fullerton (9-0) cruised past Pasadena City 98-70.

 

By Michelle Gardner
Staff Writer

The Citrus College men’s basketball team is off to the best start in school history while San Bernardino Valley College is off to one of the worst. Both will be in the 16-team field of the Wells Fargo Holiday Classic which starts today and runs through Saturday at Riverside Community College.

San Bernardino Valley College (1-6), the defending Foothill Conference champion, will take the floor at 5 p.m. today against East Los Angeles (4-5). A win would put the Wolverines into the quarterfinals on Thursday, most likely against the host school.

Citrus (10-0), ranked fourth in Southern California and seventh in the state, faces a formidable challenge at 3 p.m. Wednesday against College of the Desert (6-1).

The event is a grind with teams playing as many as four straight days. But Owls coach Rick Croy thinks his team is ready.

“This team really is built for tournament play,” he said. “I have 13 players I use and I trust all 13 of them. We plan for fatigue before it even hits us.”

Sophomore guard Buchi Awaji (18.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg) heads the effort with freshman guard A.J. Gasporra (13.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.2 apg) and sophomore guard Darren Moore (13 ppg), planning to play next season at UC Irvine.
The Owls have two other players at nine points a game including sophomore forward Richard Frohlich (9 ppg, 5.2 rpg) who has already signed with Texas-San Antonio.

While the Owls have been impressive, Croy and his team know tougher tasks are ahead.

“We know there is another level of competition we haven’t faced yet but I am happy with where we’re at,” Croy said. “Our motto is stay humble and stay hungry. So far we have been able to do that.”

Meanwhile the Wolverines are looking to find their groove. But coach Gerry Wright isn’t panicking. Four of the six losses have been by single digit margins (two in overtime) and the schedule has been tough. Making it tougher, all the games have been on the road with the first game at Snyder Gymnasium not coming until Jan. 3.

The Wolverines are missing some players Wright was relying on, with one going down with a season-ending knee injury and another leaving the team so he could work.

“We scrimmaged a week before the season and the next week we didn’t have those guys,” Wright said. “We just have to take control and go a different direction because we don’t have the aces we thought we would have.”

The team is led by returning starters Johnny Barnes (22.8 ppg) and Lewis Leonard (27.8 ppg). Leonard had 28 points in the most recent loss, an 88-80 setback to Los Angeles City. Wright added that he is looking for more production from the newcomers, especially at the off guard position.

“Right now we’re getting points out of four or five guys. That’s something we have to address,” he said.
Citrus is one five teams that come in with state rankings. The others are No. 2 Fullerton (8-0), No. 6 Mt. San Jacinto (9-0), No. 12 Riverside (7-2) and No. 17 Antelope Valley (7-3). In addition Long Beach City (5-4) is ranked No. 13 in the South.

 
The Owls finished as runner-up in the event last year, losing the championship game to Riverside.

Here is today's schedule:

Palomar (3-5) vs. Mt. Sam Jacinto (9-0), 1 p.m.

Pasadena (0-6) vs. Fullerton (8-0), 3 p.m.

East Los Angeles vs. San Bernardino Valley, 5 p.m.

Riverside All-Stars vs. Riverside CC, 7 p.m.

Wednesday's games

Long Beach City (5-4) vs. Saddleback (4-5), 1 p.m.

Desert (6-1) vs. Citrus (10-0), 3 p.m.

Los Angeles Pierce (0-5) vs. San Diego City (2-6), 5 p.m.

Compton (2-9) vs. Antelope Valley (7-3), 7 p.m.

 

 

 

Co-coaches of the Year - Perry Jehlicka, Antelope Valley and Dean Dowty, College of the Desert;

Offensive Player of the Year - Brent Rausch, Desert;

Defensive Player of the Year - Eric Leon, Antelope Valley

--- First team offense --

QB Blake Sutton, Grossmont;
RB Jahmel Rover, Chaffey;
RB Isaac Newton, Victor Valley;
OL Charles Millenbaugh, Grossmont;
OL Bryan Copping, Chaffey;
OL Carlos Savala, Desert;
OL Hayworth Hicks, Antelope Valley;
OL Michael Cunningham, Grossmont;
TE Kyle Kortsen, Desert
WR Alex Thompson, Chaffey;
WR Edgar Theliar, Desert;
K Brett Haase, Grossmont;
All-purpose - Edgar Brown, Grossmont;

--- Second team offense ---
QB Drew Westling, Southwestern;
RB Cory Thompson, Mesa;
RB James Undre Sailes, Desert;
OL David Norman, Mesa
OL Preston Moran, Victor Valley;
OL Ricky Galaz, San Bernardino Valley;
OL Phillip Yandail, Southwestern;
OL Jose Acuna, Mt. San Jacinto;
OL Kiano Prater, SBVC;
TE Kyle Marson, Grossmont;
WR Daniel Chamberlain, Mt. San Jacinto;
WR Keiton Mayes, Desert
K Andrew Parades, Victor Valley
All-purpose - Kenslow Smith, Southwestern;

--- First-team defense---

DB Leroy Trahan, SBVC;
DB Guy Ricciardulli, MEsa;
DB Sam Murphy, Antelope Valley;
DB Stefaun Dorsey, Desert;
DL Magnum Manga, Grossmont;
DL Jamison Watson, Antelope Valley;
DL Lonnel Rice, Desert;
DL David Hanna, SBVC;
ILB Chris Williamson, SBVC;
ILB Stevon Thomas, Chaffey;
OLB DeMorris Brooks, SBVC;
OLB Demetrius Collins, Antelope Valley;
P Justin Veazie, Chaffey;
Return - Deshon Daniels, Desert;

--- Second-team defense---

DB Earl Brooks, Desert;
DB Kris Sitgraves, Victor Valley;
DB Dennis Gilleylen, Chaffey;
DB Arron Grimes, Mt. San Jacinto;
DB Villa Vincencio, Grossmont;
DL Tory Robinson, Southwestern;
DL Ryan Glazier, Grossmont;
DL Albert Lee, Chaffey;
DL Vincent Mao, Mt. San Jacinto;
ILB Andre Marshall, Victor Valley;
ILB Jason Luke, Desert;
OLB Erick Brinkley, Victor Valley;
OLB Tony Espinosa, Mesa;
OLB Pulu Otukolo, Mt. San Jacinto;
OLB Draye Ersery, Desert;
P Andrew Parades, Victor Valley;
Return - Alex Thompson, Chaffey

The dry confines of the Snyder Gym proved to be a relief from the downpour outside as the Wolverines pummeled the Bakersfield Renegades 77-33 in non-conference action.

 

Sophomore Shy Walter (Perris) led the team with 14 points, followed by sophomore Jasmine Marshall (Arroyo Valley) with 12 points and freshman Dwayanna Pullum (J.W. North) with 12 points.

 

The Wolverines went on a 9-0 run to start the game ending up with a 42-14 half time lead.

 

Renegades freshman Ashley Van Zandt (Stockdale) lead the team with 11 points and sophomore Tiffany Jones contributed 10 points in the loss.

 

With the win the Wolverines move to 5-1 with their next appearance will be on the road in the Rose City Tournament in Pasadena starting on December 6^th.

 

 

Citrus freshman forward Troy Payne put together his best performance to date as he led the Owls with a team high 13 points and six rebounds in their 93-55 win over LA Harbor Saturday evening.

Citrus led wire to wire, as the Seahawks were able to keep the game close for just the first three and a half minutes of the game. Leading only by two points, the Owls would go on a 23-4 run to take a 21-point 29-8 lead with just over ten minutes to play in the first half. Citrus would hold pace with their lead taking a 21-point lead into halftime.

In the second half the Owls continued to push their lead, as they opened up the second half with another run as they scored 13 unanswered points over the first six minutes of the half, and the Owls jumped out to a 36-point lead after back to back jumpers from Ralph Monday and Jeremy Smith made the score 62-26. Citrus’ lead would never fall below 31 points from then on out, as they cruised to their 93-55 victory.

Freshman guard A.J. Gasporra matched Payne’s out-put as he poured in 13 points on 5 of 8 shooting from the floor. Freshman AJ Greenwood also put together a solid effort with six rebounds of his own, while guard Kelly Johnson dished out a season high eight assists.

With the win, the Fighting Owls continue to push their program best record to 10-0. Citrus will begin its toughest test next week as it participates in the 16-team Wells Fargo Holiday Tournament at Riverside. The tournament features five teams in the current Southern California Top 10 Poll. The Owls first game comes against 4-1 College of the Desert on Wednesday. Tip-off set for 3:00 PM.