Tourney set to start next week

The Larry Doyle Orange County Championships, a four-day girls’ basketball tournament co-hosted by Marina and Edison, begins first-round play Wednesday.

The teams in this year’s event, which runs through Dec. 29, are Edison, Marina, Esperanza, Foothill, Santa Margarita, San Clemente, Capistrano Valley, El Dorado, Norco, JW North, Mira Costa, Martin Luther King, Troy, Pacifica and El Modena.

Following opening-round play on Dec. 26, championship and consolation bracket play continues Dec. 27 and Dec. 28.

On Dec. 29, the final day of the tournament, the fifth-place game will start at 5 p.m. followed at 6:30 p.m. with the third-place game.

The championship caps the tournament at 8 p.m.

“This years tournament is the strongest ever,” Edison Coach Corey Kelly said. “There are great teams from top to bottom. It should be very competitive and a lot of fun.”

The opening day schedule:

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Wednesday

9: 30 a.m.: San Clemente vs. Esperanza JV

11 a.m.: Foothill vs. Capistrano Valley

12:30 p.m.: Marina vs. Santa Margarita

2 p.m.: Edison vs. El Modena

3:30 p.m.: Norco vs. Pacifica

5 p.m.: Troy vs. ML King

6:30 p.m.: Esperanza vs. JW North

8 p.m.: Mira Costa vs. El Dorado

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?Note: Championship and consolation bracket action begins at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 27 and runs all day through 9 p.m.