42nd Leo LaRocca Sand Dune Classic at St. Ignatius begins today 12/27

[TurtleLoveCA]

Today's games

3 PM Mission vs. Encinal
430 PM Loyola (Los Angeles) vs Monte Vista
6 PM Bellarmine Prep (Tacoma, WA) vs Fremont (Oakland)
730 PM Burlingame vs St Ignatius

 

[SF_Mikey]

Loyola v Monte Vista might be the two best teams in the tournament. Shame they have them playing in the first round.

 

[TurtleLoveCA]

After two games going as expected with Mission and Loyola winning, this one is a bit surprising. Bellarmine won here 2 years ago led by now Wash St. PG Malachi Flynn. This Bellarmine team is nothing close to that and trails Fremont of Oakland 34-32 late 3rd qtr.

 

[TurtleLoveCA]

Bellarmine with 10-2 run to end 3rd leading 40-36.

 

[TurtleLoveCA]

Bellarmine coasted with a good 4th. Fremont just lacking in talent.

This last one is ugly. Really ugly. Midway through the 1st and Burlingame getting crushed 17-3. Burlingame's only talent, Cal Spurlock is out with an injury.

 

[TurtleLoveCA]

I can't call this what I want to. After 1, St Ignatius leads Burlingame 29-5.

Sad and embarrassing.

 

[TurtleLoveCA]

37-5.

 

[TurtleLoveCA]

Halftime 49-13. Running click can't come soon enough

 

[TurtleLoveCA]

71-23 end 3.

 

[5MatchUp]

Mission Vs SI tonight at 730pm

 

[CityVibesII]

Two entertaining semi-finals.

Loyola (Los Angeles) v. Bellarmine (WA. State). Loyola is tall, but Bellarmine is patient and subs well. Nod to Loyola.

Mission and S.I. will lack the luster of last year's Nor Cal semi as both teams will not having their big men playing. Word is S.I. big men (at least 3 of them) out remainder of year. Will S.I. perimeter shooters get the shots off they could not in last years NorCal semi? Nod to S.I as they will have more presence on the inside a stable senior core of players. I'm sure game means more to Cats. Mission will keep it entertaining but Cats win down the stretch.

 

[iamgearyblvd]

Two entertaining semi-finals.

Loyola (Los Angeles) v. Bellarmine (WA. State). Loyola is tall, but Bellarmine is patient and subs well. Nod to Loyola.

Mission and S.I. will lack the luster of last year's Nor Cal semi as both teams will not having their big men playing. Word is S.I. big men (at least 3 of them) out remainder of year. Will S.I. perimeter shooters get the shots off they could not in last years NorCal semi? Nod to S.I as they will have more presence on the inside a stable senior core of players. I'm sure game means more to Cats. Mission will keep it entertaining but Cats win down the stretch.

Of course its always nice to have size/height up front but SI's main strength is speed/athleticism/shooting. I saw SI's roster at the start of the year and they had a trio of 6'6-6'8 guys. As long as you have Trammell, Beckman, Redmond, and Robinson out there, the opposing team is going to have a tough time man to man. Zone is the way to go and hope SI misses more than makes from the outside.

This "rematch" means little. Nothing will ever take the sting of losing to Mission in NorCals. That scar will live forever ala SI beating Balboa.

 

[5MatchUp]

Of course its always nice to have size/height up front but SI's main strength is speed/athleticism/shooting. I saw SI's roster at the start of the year and they had a trio of 6'6-6'8 guys. As long as you have Trammell, Beckman, Redmond, and Robinson out there, the opposing team is going to have a tough time man to man. Zone is the way to go and hope SI misses more than makes from the outside.

This "rematch" means little. Nothing will ever take the sting of losing to Mission in NorCals. That scar will live forever ala SI beating Balboa.

You’re absolutely right about that scar but you know SI will try and extract a little more than revenge if they have the chance tonight. Hope it’s a better up and down game today and SI looks to actually run today unlike last year’s semi when they were unwilling to run with Mission.

I did not see Loyola but I was not very impressed with Bellarmine against Fremont. They seemed like not very tough team. Screening was soft, going to the basket was ok. Fremont was able to stay in that game just off being athletic but lacked in a lot of areas. Number 25 for Fremont was a matchup problem at the elbow area and below for Bellarmine. They did not get him enough touches down the stretch to keep game close.

 

[jordan24]

Of course its always nice to have size/height up front but SI's main strength is speed/athleticism/shooting. I saw SI's roster at the start of the year and they had a trio of 6'6-6'8 guys. As long as you have Trammell, Beckman, Redmond, and Robinson out there, the opposing team is going to have a tough time man to man. Zone is the way to go and hope SI misses more than makes from the outside.

This "rematch" means little. Nothing will ever take the sting of losing to Mission in NorCals. That scar will live forever ala SI beating Balboa.

The fact that Mission went on to take a State title also adds to that sting from last year. You have to take what is there for you at the moment, the future is never guaranteed.

 

[jordan24]

Two entertaining semi-finals.

Loyola (Los Angeles) v. Bellarmine (WA. State). Loyola is tall, but Bellarmine is patient and subs well. Nod to Loyola.

Mission and S.I. will lack the luster of last year's Nor Cal semi as both teams will not having their big men playing. Word is S.I. big men (at least 3 of them) out remainder of year. Will S.I. perimeter shooters get the shots off they could not in last years NorCal semi? Nod to S.I as they will have more presence on the inside a stable senior core of players. I'm sure game means more to Cats. Mission will keep it entertaining but Cats win down the stretch.

CityVibesII, what players are potentially out for the year for SI? Disappointing news as SI would have been a prohibitive favorite if at full strength. The loss of Jaedon Roberts transferring also being felt.

 

[TurtleLoveCA]

Bellarmine was not good at all and should get dusted by Loyola. Fremont has very little talent and stayed in the game because they worked their butts off until they finally ran out of steam.

 

[iamgearyblvd]

The fact that Mission went on to take a State title also adds to that sting from last year. You have to take what is there for you at the moment, the future is never guaranteed.

I think SI missed their chance at state title last year. Assumption they will be in NorCal Open this year (If they win CCS Open or finish runner up). If you dont have any D1 guys on your team, you're not winning Open.

 

[jordan24]

I think SI missed their chance at state title last year. Assumption they will be in NorCal Open this year (If they win CCS Open or finish runner up). If you dont have any D1 guys on your team, you're not winning Open.

Agree.
Also, no knock on Mitty, but they are still riding the coattails of Aaron Gordon. No way they should be invited to some of these Top Level Tournaments - as their record speaks for itself. Definitely will prepare them for WCAL play and I still consider the Monarchs a strong contender.

 

[iamgearyblvd]

Agree.
Also, no knock on Mitty, but they are still riding the coattails of Aaron Gordon. No way they should be invited to some of these Top Level Tournaments - as their record speaks for itself. Definitely will prepare them for WCAL play and I still consider the Monarchs a strong contender.

I do recall a time when Mitty was not good and was the worst of the south bay WCAL teams. I want to say that was around the turn of the millennium. Became a power with the likes of Drew Gordon and Colin Chiverton and have not stepped off the gas pedal. Dont see that changing as the school itself has become sort of a hub for the best SJ area hoops talent. That used to be Bellarmine. But I guess when choosing a school to go to you go to the one where you have females as classmates as well. Mitty is plenty dangerous with likely POY Riley Grigsby and super-talented frosh Mike Mitchell.

 

[CityVibesII]

Of course its always nice to have size/height up front but SI's main strength is speed/athleticism/shooting. I saw SI's roster at the start of the year and they had a trio of 6'6-6'8 guys. As long as you have Trammell, Beckman, Redmond, and Robinson out there, the opposing team is going to have a tough time man to man. Zone is the way to go and hope SI misses more than makes from the outside.

This "rematch" means little. Nothing will ever take the sting of losing to Mission in NorCals. That scar will live forever ala SI beating Balboa.

True. But last year the trio (other than Trammel in first half-he was held scoreless in 2nd) was shut down in man-to-man (not sure if Beckman and Redmond reached double figures. In WCAL, the trio had luxury of having an extra 1/2 second to get off shot; against Mission last year, each shot was contested. Being that said, two of Missions best defenders have graduated. Again, edge to Cats tonight.

 

[CityVibesII]

CityVibesII, what players are potentially out for the year for SI? Disappointing news as SI would have been a prohibitive favorite if at full strength. The loss of Jaedon Roberts transferring also being felt.

The two 6'8" junior sticks, but the third, was a serious contributor. They will still be good, but not intimidating.

 

[SF_Mikey]

True. But last year the trio (other than Trammel in first half-he was held scoreless in 2nd) was shut down in man-to-man (not sure if Beckman and Redmond reached double figures. In WCAL, the trio had luxury of having an extra 1/2 second to get off shot; against Mission last year, each shot was contested. Being that said, two of Missions best defenders have graduated. Again, edge to Cats tonight.

Beckman missed quite a few "open" shots that I normally see him knock down. Redmond had a subpar overall game and was thrown off by Mission's quickness, tenacity and aggressiveness. Also Teddy Snyder lost his composure early and was never a factor inside for the Cats. Niamey defensively shutdown Trammel in the second half and Mission made the big plays down the stretch to pull out the victory. It was an electric atmosphere at McCullough.....

 

[TurtleLoveCA]

Anyone there for Burlingame Encinal? Should be ending right about now.

 

[CAPTAIN MORGAN]

Begovich, Cason and Nangle are out now for SI but haven't heard they are out for the year. They are all sitting on the bench. Begovich is the only true 6'8". Cason came on during the summer and would have taken most of Roberts minutes.

 

[SF_Mikey]

38-21 Loyola early third. Just got here.

 

[SF_Mikey]

Loyola 49-37 early 4th

 

[SF_Mikey]

Final Loyola 64 - Bellarmine 39. Good crowd already here for Mission vs St Ignatius.

 

[SF_Mikey]

SI 23 - Mission 8 end of first

 

[CityVibesII]

29-25 Cats. Halftime

 

[CityVibesII]

1:09 remaining. 55-51. Cats

 

[CityVibesII]

Final 60-55. SI has some talent but is there such a thing as playing too long with each other? They had inspired play that gave them a big cushion, but tired out at end of second period. Mission slow-bled back into game. Same thing happened in second half. Beckman fouls out and nobody take control. Fortunately SI shot much better from FT line, but still allowed Mission to get within 4 with a minute. A play here a play there and Mission wins.

SI would be best to stay in Division III and hope they don't run into a running team beyond sectionals. They have just enough depth to keep them competitive in WCAL.

As for tomorrow, I see Loyola finding a way. Mission may have a letdown v. a steady Bellarmine. BTW, a decent crowd for a City semi-final.

 

[SF_Mikey]

I agree with CVII - St Ignatius didn't impress tonight. This was the first time that I've seen them this year and I expected (a lot) more. Their inside presence other than a strong first quarter by Teddy Snyder was MIA. Also their guard play was inconsistent but Mission is relentless with their constant on ball pressure defense and full court press. I'm a little less confident now in my prediction that SI will finish in the top three in the WCAL.

I think Loyola will beat SI in the final but it should be a good game.

 

[CityVibesII]

SI captures their own tournament 60-58 over Loyola (Los Angeles). Mission beats Bellarmine (WA State) by 15 in semis. Any reports would be appreciated.

 

[SF_Mikey]

SI captures their own tournament 60-58 over Loyola (Los Angeles). Mission beats Bellarmine (WA State) by 15 in semis. Any reports would be appreciated.

Unfortunately, I didn't make it out there but nice win by SI as Loyola was solid - they have good size, shooting but their guard play / quickness was probably their achilles which I am sure that SI was able to successfully exploit.