Town Hall Sports Coordinator Jeremy Teeguarden reported on youth basketball for both the College League (kindergarten through third-grade) and the Pro League (third- through sixth-grade) for the week of March 5.

College League (Kindergarten through third-grade)
The College League playoffs started on Monday with the Idyllwild Vacation Rentals Wolverines playing the Gastrognome Gators. The game was tied at halftime as both teams played great defense. The Wolverines’ Layton Teeguarden and the Gators’ Lilah Whitney lead their team’s great defense. In the second half the Gators got hot and pulled away to win 19-7 and advance to Thursday’s championship game.

The second playoff game was between the Village Hardware Blue Devils and the Rotary Wildcats. Like the first game, both teams played strong defense in the first half and the game was close. Gracie McKimson played great for the Wildcats on defense. In the second half the Blue Devils got some key baskets from Brian Mabery and held on to win 13-10 to advance to the championship game.

Thursday night was the end of the season for the College League. The first game was between the Idyllwild Vacation Rentals Wolverines and the Rotary Wildcats. The Wolverines played great as Ethan Teeguarden led them with six points. The Wolverines had the lead through three quarters as four different players scored. The Wildcats got hot when Cody Fogle scored six points in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats made a great comeback to win 16-14.

The College League Championship game matched the Gastrognome Gators and the Village Hardware Blue Devils. In a high scoring game, both teams played great.

Fiona McMullen led the way as she scored eight points for the Blue Devils. The Gators held a slim lead, 16-14, as the fourth quarter began. The Blue Devils’ play couldn’t stop the Gators’ Preston Pino, who got hot in the final quarter. He scored six points of the Gators. With 11 final-quarter points, they pulled away to win the championship game 29-20.

It was a great season. All the teams had fun, played great and got so much better as the season went on. Thanks to all the players, coaches, parents, sponsors, scorekeepers and refs on a great season.

Pro League (Third- through sixth-grade)
On Tuesday night, the Pro League’s playoffs started with the Town Crier Clippers taking on the Fairway Market Lakers. The Lakers were hot early and built a ten point halftime lead. The Clippers didn’t give up and in the second half began a great comeback.

Vinny Parillo’s and Ben Tiso’s big baskets to lead the way for the Clippers. With just under two minutes remaining, they got to within a basket and had a couple chances to tie the game. But the Lakers kept their cool and Isaiah Carmen scored the clinching basket. The Lakers prevailed 16-12 and advanced to the championship game.

The second game was between the Idyllwild Automotive Grizzlies and the Pino Tree Service Heat. The Heat got the early lead and held it as the game entered the fourth quarter. The Heat’s Fernando Lopez scored big baskets to maintain the lead. The Grizzlies kept playing hard. Then, with about a minute to play, Aly Fogle scored giving the Grizlies a one point lead. The Heat had a couple shots to win but they didn’t go in. In a hard fought game, the Grizzlies won 14-13 and advanced to the championship game Friday night.

On Friday The Town Crier Clippers faced the Pino Tree Service Heat in the consolation game. Both teams played super hard. The entire game was close and was tied going into the fourth quarter. The Heat got a basket from Jake Mabery and the Clippers’ Chayton Kenyon answered with a key basket as the game went to overtime.

In the overtime both teams scrambled to get the big basket. Toby Posey got a big rebound and put it back in for the winning basket, giving the Heat a 17-15 victory in a great game.

The championship game matched the Idyllwild Automotive Grizzlies against the Fairway Market Lakers. The Lakers started off hot and by the middle of the second quarter, they had built a 10-point lead. The Grizzlies battled back as Zach Fogle led the charge scoring seven points.

When the fourth quarter begn, the Grizzlies had battled all the way back to tie the score. Both teams played great defense and knew one basket would probably be the difference. The Lakers’ Stephan Carman got open on the sideline and scored the winning basket late in the fourth quarter. The final score was 16-14 as the Lakers won the championship.

It was a great season with five very competative teams. Thanks to all the players, coaches, parents, sponsors, scorekeepers and refs.