Tournament time for Merced-area high school basketball teams

There’s no easing into basketball season for Hector Nava and his Merced High School boys team.

The Bears will play 16 games this month, including four in the Modesto City Classic, starting Wednesday against Gregori at Modesto High at 3:30 p.m.

“I want to get them out there to play,” Nava said. “I’ve got a lot of football players, and I’m just excited to get them out on the basketball court.”

Eight of 14 players on the roster played football. With Merced reaching the second round of the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs, it makes the transition to basketball tough. It usually takes athletes three or four weeks to gain their basketball legs.

With so many games and so little practice, Nava and his players are going to have to make the transition on the fly.

“I’ve got a lot of players who haven’t played basketball or practiced, and I’m just sticking them right out there in games,” Nava said. “It’s kind of like just throwing them in the ocean. When you have good athletes like we do – if you can teach them a little defense and they play hard – we should be OK.”

The Bears return three starters in A.J. Stewart, Ulonzo Gilliam and Jermon Cook from last season’s team that tied Golden Valley for the Central California Conference championship and advanced to the Division I semifinals at Sleep Train Arena.

The Modesto City Classic is a four-day event at two locations. The tournament went to pool play for the first three days this year, and Merced will face three Modesto Metro Conference teams in Gregori, Modesto and Beyer. Mariposa is in the same pool and will play Modesto Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. and Gregori and Downey the following two days.

Atwater and Buhach Colony are in the other pool playing at Johansen High. The Falcons will open against Grace Davis Wednesday at 5 p.m. The Thunder plays Central Catholic Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.

Saturday’s matchups will be based on pool play results.

Lady Cougar Classic

Golden Valley will host the 20th annual Lady Cougar Classic beginning Thursday. The tournament will have a local feel with Merced, El Capitan and Buhach Colony participating.

Merced and El Capitan tip off the tournament at 3:30 p.m., and Buhach Colony faces Central Valley at 5. The other first-round games include Beyer vs. Madera at 6:30 and Franklin of Stockton taking on Golden Valley at 8.

The Cougars are looking to challenge for a playoff spot for the first time since 2008. Golden Valley is benefiting from the transfers of Stephanie Moore (Modesto Christian) and Abbee Croninger (Dos Palos). The Cougars also have a sharpshooter in freshman Delia Moore, who is Stephanie’s sister.

Golden Valley also returns its top three scorers in Camille Flores, Naomi Peterson and Marissa Servantes.

Merced returns many players from its CCC championship team, including junior guard Lexi Thompson. Buhach Colony begins life after four-year point guard Allison Wisdom. The Thunder will rely heavily on four-year players Brandy and Barbara Coward.

This story was originally published December 2, 2014 at 8:27 PM with the headline "Tournament time for Merced-area high school basketball teams."