REV boys basketball coach Bill Berich talks to his team during a game against Cajon.

The big negative to playing in an eight-team basketball league, some coaches would say, is that you have league games scheduled before Christmas.
Unless you change them, of course.
Several Citrus Belt League schools mixed in the two league games originally slated for mid-December for other days.
For the Redlands East Valley boys, both of their rescheduled games are on a Saturday on Jan. 17 at Miller and on Feb. 7 home vs. Redlands, both at 6 p.m. The REV girls play at the opposite site on the same days.
“I think the Redlands game (should be a good crowd). We can promote that one. That’s our one game (each year) where we get a really good crowd,” REV boys coach Bill Berich said. “I like it a lot better than playing league games in December.”
Berich thinks it also works out well because the CBL’s regular schedule has games on Tuesday and Thursday this year, so playing Saturday means no back-to-back league games.
“I don’t like that (back-to-back league games),” Berich said. “I don’t mind it for tournaments, but league games are important and you want to be able to tweak a few things (between games).”
But if the CBL was on a Wednesday-Friday schedule?
“I guess we’d have to play Monday, but I don’t really like that either,” Berich said.
I’d love to see more Saturday league games. A lot of the small private schools play league games Saturday, perhaps because it’s easier to get officials on a Saturday or travel is easier on a Saturday. Some of those small-school games are Adventist schools, which can’t play on Friday night.
I’d love to see a few more. There’s less issue with parents rushing to get to the game after work on a Saturday and there’s a unique feel to it.

Share this