Two schools, one big event

Mike Sciacca

A tournament that was brought to life in the late 1980s is still

going strong in 2003.

Marina and Edison, the two high schools that co-hosted the

original holiday girls’ event, are hosting the 2003 Larry Doyle

Orange County Championships beginning Friday through Tuesday at the

Marina gymnasium.

Although the tournament began with the two schools sharing hosting

duties, it eventually split, with Marina and Edison each holding its

own holiday tournament.

Last year, Marina coach Butch Fredlow and Edison coach Corey Kelly

got together and decided to combine the two tournaments, the result

being the Larry Doyle Orange County Championships, Fredlow said.

The tournament is named in honor of late Marina athletic director

Larry Doyle.

“He was a great friend, coach and teacher,” Fredlow said. “The

tournament features two CIF Southern Section champions, a CIF

finalist and a CIF semifinalist. Every Orange County team entered in

the tournament qualified for the CIF playoffs last year.

“It is by far the best girls’ tournament in Orange County.”

The two reigning CIF champions entered in the tournament are San

Clemente and Mater Dei.

Capistrano Valley was a CIF semifinalist and Hart High was a CIF

runner-up.

Marina will put one of the youngest teams on the floor during the

tournament.

Fredlow’s squad starts three sophomores and a freshman, with just

three seniors on the 13-player roster.

“I would think that San Clemente and Hart are the top tournament

seeds this year,” Fredlow said.

Sixteen teams will be vying for the tournament title, 11 of which

are Orange County schools.

Games begin Friday at 9:30 a.m. and run throughout the day, ending

with an 8 p.m. game.

Action continues all day Saturday. Following a Sunday break, it

resumes Monday and concludes Tuesday with consolation- and

championship-game play.

Here is the game time rundown for Friday’s first round of action:

9:30 a.m. -- San Clemente vs. Cerritos

11 a.m. -- El Dorado vs. Pacifica

12:30 p.m. -- Esperanza vs. San Gabriel

2 p.m. -- Marina vs. Rosary

3:30 p.m. -- Hart vs. Estancia

5 p.m. -- Edison vs. Aliso Niguel

6:30 p.m. -- Mater Dei vs. South Delta

8 p.m. -- Capistrano Valley vs. West Torrance

TUESDAY’S SCHEDULE

Championship Play

3:30 p.m. -- Consolation championship

5 p.m. -- Fifth-place game

6:30 p.m. -- Third-place game

8 p.m. -- Championship game