It's difficult to figure out who benefits more from the annual Sac-Joaquin Section Foundation Games -- the basketball teams that participate or the scholarship recipients at the end of the school year.
But, literally, there will be losers in any of the 158 boys' and girls' Foundation Games played tonight at high schools in every corner of the section.
While scores will be kept and these will be played exactly like official games, the results will not count in anyone's standings the the contest will not count against each team's limit of contacts.
Yet since half the gate receipts go the section scholarship fund, the big payout is at the end of the season. Last year, this game allowed the section to award scholarships ranging from $600 to $1,500 to 49 athletes representing every league in the section.
To aid the cause, even the game officials agree to waive their fees to work the games.
Most of the games have been scheduled as girls-boys doubleheaders, and in such cases the girls will tip-off at 6 p.m. In the case of single game, ticket is $50. At all sites, admission is $5, $3 for students.
In a more symbolic way, the games serve as the official tip-off of the high school basketball season, and with on one's power ranking in jeopardy, schools are free to schedule up or down depending on their needs.
That freedom makes for some interesting doubleheader matchups.
Davis at Merced
The Spartan boys are coming off back-to-back unbeaten runs through the Modesto Metro Conference, while the Bears are looking to improve off their first down season in several years, a 10-16 campaign.
The Merced girls finished 19-9 last year, including a victory over Central California Conference juggernaut Turlock while Davis finished 16-11 and second in the MMC.
Patterson at Modesto
The Panther boys will be led on the court by a new coach Pete Peterson, making the move from the girls team, which went 19-7 last season (10-0 in the MMC). The Tiger girls finished third in the Western Athletic Conference with a roster that included three seniors and and two juniors.
Central Catholic at Escalon
Interesting in that it comes only three days after the schools' met in this season's eagerly awaited small schools' football game, and also because the Raider boys could be very good this season with the inside-out combination of senior guard Kyler Wilson and 6-9 junior John Felton.
Modesto Bee staff writer Brian Vander Beek can be reached at 578-2300 or bvanderveek@modbee.com or (209) 578-2300.
E-Mail
Print
