THE HOLIDAY CLASSIC’S HEALTHY AGAIN
With teams from all over, tourney returns to pre-COVID levels
For the first time in four years, John Olive — tournament director for The Holiday Classic — feels good, really good, about his 80team, 55-city, 10-state high school basketball tournament.
“In 2019, the coronavirus was here, but we didn’t really know it,” said Olive, the head basketball coach at Torrey Pines High. “Players were sick, coaches were sick, fans were ill, and the crowds were down.
“We lost the 2020 event entirely to COVID.
“We were back in ’21, but it was a challenge. We had teams de-commit at the last minute. We had others play a game, then drop out. Griffin Jimenez, Jake Gilliam (tournament chairmen) and Tanner McEntee did a great job behind the scenes, reworking schedules, getting teams from one venue to another. Those guys aged five years in a week.”
This year’s tournament — the 32nd edition of The Holiday Classic — tips off Dec. 27 at five sites — Torrey Pines (National Division), St. Augustine (American), Carlsbad (Senator’s), Santa Fe Christian (Governor’s) and Rancho Buena Vista (Mayor’s).
There are 16 teams in each division with eight
games a day at each site, beginning at 9:30 a.m. and ending around 10 p.m.
The National Division features nationally ranked Coronado of Nevada (No. 41) and St. John’s College of Washington, D.C. (No. 35).
That division also includes San Diego powers St. Augustine, Torrey Pines and San Ysidro; San Jose Archbishop Mitty, ranked No. 9 in California; San Juan Capistrano JSerra, ranked No. 2 in the state; and Washington state powers O’Dea and Eastside Classic.
“We’re doing a lot of traveling this season,” said Mike Haupt, coach of St. Augustine, the No. 1-ranked team
in San Diego. “We’re going to the Tark Classic (in Las Vegas), the Nike Tournament of Champions (in Arizona), the Hoophall Classic (in Springfield, Mass.), and we have a nonleague game against Notre Dame-Sherman Oaks.
“But I love playing in John’s tournament. We get to play great teams, teams from all over the country, and we don’t have to get on a plane.”
Terry Tucker’s San Ysidro team also plays a national schedule and boasts stars Mike Williams and JJ Taylor, who both have committed to Memphis.
“I’ll always support John’s tournament,” Tucker said. “We get a chance to play great teams and still stay in the county. I can’t ask for more.”
The calendar works out perfectly of Olive and The Holiday Classic.
The event normally starts on Dec. 26. This year, Olive has the luxury of starting on Dec. 27 and finishing on Friday, Dec. 30.
There is a Tip Off Night on Friday at Torrey Pines, featuring Carlsbad vs. Mission Bay at 5 p.m.; Torrey Pines vs. Santa Fe Christian at 6:30 p.m. and San Ysidro vs. La Costa Canyon at 8 p.m.
“Starting on the 27th gives the out-of-state teams and teams from Northern California an extra day to travel,” Olive said. “Starting on the 26th means teams have to travel on Christmas.
“I anticipate a great tournament and great crowds.
“We try and get a good team from every geographical region. We have St. John’s from D.C., St. Edward from Ohio, great teams from Texas, the Northwest and Southwest.
“And of course, California and San Diego. That excites me.”
One hiccup is at Carlsbad High, host of the Senator’s Division.
The main gym was flooded and the floor is under repair. So the tournament will be run in Carlsbad’s old gym, which is still better than most school’s gyms.
“We got lucky there,” Olive said. “Trying to find a new venue this late would have been tough.
“Fingers crossed, we’re back to normal … great games, great crowds.”