Kendall Kikkawa By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor It might be nearing the end of January, a time that prep basketball programs are heading into the second half of their league schedules. They’re not only hoping to peak for the playoffs, but also wanting to use each weekend before the postseason begins to heal the aches […]
Kendall Kikkawa
By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor
Jake Althouse
It might be nearing the end of January, a time that prep basketball programs are heading into the second half of their league schedules.
They’re not only hoping to peak for the playoffs, but also wanting to use each weekend before the postseason begins to heal the aches and pains a typical basketball season has on its players.
But what San Dimas coach Gordon Hamlow put together 15 years ago is an event that top coaches and programs gladly accept.
Hamlow’s ‘Southern California Shootout’ will take place all day Saturday at Azusa Pacific University.
It’s not only a playoff-type atmosphere, it’s played on a court named after his father, Cliff Hamlow.
Cliff Hamlow, 83, was not only APU’s first head basketball coach from 1954-1987, he is also his son’s top assistant at San Dimas High School.
There are 9 games, featuring some of the CIF-Southern Section’s top-ranked teams, including Etiwanda, Damien, St. John Bosco, Oak Park and Gahr.
NBA players who have played in the event include Kawhi Leonard, Tony Snell, Darren Collison and Jrue Holiday.
Flintridge Prep will take on Alta Loma in the day’s first game at 9 a.m.
The Rebels (6-7 overall, 2-1 league) hope to use Saturday’s nonleague contest as a tune up for next week’s trio of Prep League games.
Jake Althouse and Kendall Kikkawa have been leading the Rebels, and they’ll need both playing well as they have consecutive road games at Firebaugh, Poly and Rio Hondo Prep next week.
Prep is just one-game behind first-place Poly in the Prep League standings.
“It’s really cool to be part of a lineup with so many great programs,” Kikkawa said. “It will be a competitive day of basketball and a very unique opportunity for us. For me personally, I, along with Jake will be responsible for leading this team. As the players with the most varsity experience, the coaches and our teammates look to us for leadership and guidance. As a point guard, I’ve tried to get everybody involved as well. When everybody is playing at a high level, teams can’t key in on any one or two players, rather they have to respect anybody that we put out there.”
Ticket prices are $5 for kids and $12 for adults.
“It has a lot of playoff-like teams and should be a good experience,” Hamlow said. “We feel like these are the kind of games that help prepare us for the playoffs.”
Saturday Shootout Schedule:
Flintridge Prep vs Alta Loma at 9 a.m.
San Marino vs Glendora at 10:25
San Dimas vs Walnut at 11:50
La Canada vs Los Osos at 1:15
Hesperia vs Oak Park at 2:40
St. John Bosco vs Diamond Bar at 4:05
Bonita vs Colony at 5:30
Damien vs Claremont at 7
Etiwanda vs Gahr at 8:30
