Prep Girls Basketball: Poway High, Del Norte set for Westview’s SoCal Holiday Prep Classic
By Michael Bower
Poway High, Del Norte and Westview will all once again be part of one of the largest girls basketball tournaments in the state.
Fifty-three teams will play in seven different divisions (TOC 1, TOC 2, NCAA, NAIA, PBL, PREP, FIBA) — based on coach’s request and talent level — in the 10th annual Southern California Holiday Prep Classic beginning Wednesday at various venues in the county, including Westview and Del Norte high schools.
Westview girls basketball coach Frank Quinones has watched his tournament balloon from just eight teams to what it is now over a span of 10 years.
Squads from all across the nation and even a few from Canada have made the trip to San Diego to be part of the action in the past.
This year there will be teams from California, Nevada, Canada, Louisiana, Arizona and Texas.
“When I started this tournament, I didn’t plan on it getting this big,” said Quinones, who along with players, assistant coaches and parents put in countless hours of work to make it happen. “Every year it got a little bigger, and then it just kind of has blown up. It has been an amazing ride. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
The SoCal Holiday Prep Classic runs through Saturday with the final game being the TOC 1 Division championship game, which is slated for 8 p.m. at Westview High School.
The TOC 1 Division is the toughest bracket of them all. It features Westview, Bishop’s, Serra-San Diego, Cathedral Catholic, Vista, Bishop Gorman-Nevada, Our Lady of Peace and Lou Dantzler.
Vista captured the NAIA Division title last year and Bishop Gorman is always a force in the Nevada state playoffs. Canyon of Anaheim, which won the TOC Division last year, will be playing in the TOC 2 Division.
The Titans will be playing in the NCAA Division along with Mission Hills, Sonora, Oceanside, San Pasqual, Down, San Diego and Olympian. Poway opens pool play against Sonora on Wednesday at 5 p.m. at Westview High School.
The Nighthawks, which finished in second place in the NAIA Division last year, will play in the FIBA Division.
Also playing in the division are Campo Verde-Arizona, Canyon Crest Academy, Steele Canyon, Jasper Place - Alberta, Canada, Grossmont, Escondido and Bell.
Del Norte opens pool play against Bell on Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Mt. Miguel High School.
For a complete schedule of games, visit
.