With six area teams in the basketball semifinals, I was hoping we would do better than just La Verne Lutheran playing in Thursday’s Division 5AA championship against Windward at 8:15 p.m., at Colony High School. BTW, CIF doesn’t do us any favors by having 8:15 championship games, the deadlines for newspapers make it almost impossible to get game stories in the next day. We will have a short story, but forget about quotes from coaches or end of game photo’s with reaction from the winners, the late start make it almost impossible. By the way, CIF-SS spokesperson Thom Simmons weighed in on this by saying, “More important to us than meeting your (newspapers) deadline is providing a first-class venue for the kids,” Simmons said. “The way to do that is using the start times that we do.” Maybe he’s right, Simmons said kids and schools are more concerned with what time they’re playing than being featured in the newspaper the next day. Personally, I think players and fans care about both, but after the games end, CIF could care less what happens in regards to coverage. In any case, state playoffs playoffs begin next week, but we won’t know for certain until Sunday who are involved. So, start nominating boys and girls player of the year, coaches of the year and first team. Also, we hope to have dates for the Tribune/Star-News all-star game at Azusa Pacific soon.