Solano Showdown begins for final time

Falcons hope to win ninth title in 25 years

The Solano Showdown will take place for the 25th time this weekend and the Solano College women’s basketball team hopes to close it out in style.

The yearly tournament will begin Friday at the Fairfield campus with the Falcons matched up the first night against Lassen of Susanville. Although Solano head coach Matt Borchert said the tournament has been great for over two decades, it’s time to end it after Sunday.

“I wanted to end it after 25 years and just thought it was the right time,” Borchert said. “In women’s basketball the format has changed for scheduling over the years. We’re now allowed to schedule 28 games and I’m more in favor of possibly having a fourteam or 16-team tournament in the future. With eight teams we have to play that extra game on Sunday and I think whatever comes next should be more like the Big Ten Tournament or ACC Challenge.

“Over the years I’ve been thankful to the community and how its shown a lot of support over the

years with donations and hospitality, especially with local restaurants,” the Falcons coach continued. “I can’t thank the numerous volunteers enough. We’ve had a lot of people working it for a long, long time with a little turnover but it’s all been fantastic.”

The tournament was created by former Solano coach Kim Gervasoni. Borchert said he has many memories of the invitational, including in 2000, the first time Borchert hosted as head coach of the Falcons.

“We won on a buzzerbeater against Sierra by Athena Santos on a nice pull-up jump shot,” Borchert said. “It was a good back-and-forth game that I believe went to overtime. 2005 was also great when Kate Shipp was the MVP. That was a good team

“... We have a lot of freshmen and they are learning that you have to play harder in college than in high school in order to get a win. I find that if we figure that out soon we can possibly go on a long good run.”

— Matt Borchert,

Solano College women’s basketball coach.

too.”

The Falcons have won the tournament eight times, with the last time being in 2017 when R.J. Johnson was named MVP.

Solano is 3-6 this year, but Borchert is hoping the team can turn things around and capture a ninth title this weekend.

“I like that this year’s team has a lot of fight and a lot of grit,” Borchert said. “We have a small team in size, but we’re battling and we’ve been in a lot of close games. At the same time we have a lot of freshmen and they are learning that you have to play harder in college than in high school in order to get a win. I find that if we figure that out soon we can possibly go on a long good run.”

Delta and Feather River kick off the tournament with a 1 p.m. scheduled game on Friday, and that contest will be followed by Los Medanos playing Riverside and then Cosumnes River playing Chabot before the Falcons play in the nightcap.

Games will begin at noon on Saturday, while the championship contest will take place at 4 p.m. on Sunday. The consolation game is that same day at noon.