ADULT BASKETBALL

The ICC Adult Basketball League is off to a roaring start as the league keeps on growing with teams coming from as far as Anza and the Santa Rosa Reservation. The six teams took to the courts at the Idyllwild School gymnasium for some fast-paced, high-action games of 4-on-4 halfcourt basketball.

Last year the league comprised of five teams – this year there are six. Here is a quick profile of the six teams, in no particular order:

In the opening series of games last Wednesday February 5^(th), it was the Monsters and Palms to Pines Electric who came out victorious in both of their matches and are currently sitting at the top in the standings, both at 2-0.

Santa Rosa took on the Bomb Squad in their opening match, which was back-and-forth and very close in terms of score, but in the end it was the Bomb Squad who pulled ahead for the victory by 5 points.

The Black Panthers, playing one player short, had a tough loss against Palms to Pines Electric in their first game, but mustered the energy in their second game to come up with the win against the Green Hornets.

In a post-game interview with Carl Dewese, captain of Palms to Pines Electric, he was asked what he thought about his team’s performance in their opening games. Here is what he had to say:

“I liked the teamwork we had and our defensive effort really showed. Toby [Posey] was on-fire from deep; and great hustle from Chad [Szopinski] getting every loose ball available.”

The other team leading the pack is the Monsters with the ever-so threatening father-son duo of Brian Kretsinger and his MVP-prone son, 16-year-old Griffin Kretsinger.

The next series of games are set to occur Wednesday February 12^(th) at 6:00pm.

ICC Adult Basketball Standings

YOUTH GYMNASTICS

Coming soon to Town Hall: SPORT ACROBATICS & POWER TUMBLING! Ages 7 and up. Thursdays 4:00-6:00pm. Training includes Sport Acrobatics, Power Tumbling, Rhythmic-Gymnastics, Baton Twirling, Team Gym, Cheer Stunts and Group Choreography. For more information call 951-777-8326 or go to the ICC website at www.idyllwildcommunitycenter.org.

ADULT VOLLEYBALL

Village Hardware continues to dominate the volleyball court at Buckhorn Camp’s Peace Center as they extend their winning streak to 6 wins and 0 losses. Led by coach Lance Fogle and family, they recently defeated the Red Kettle and got their sweet revenge with BBI Construction – the team that eliminated them in last year’s semi-finals.

The “game of the month”, as referee Brian Wilson calls it, happened last Tuesday February 4^(th). Idyllwild Garage (who finished in second place last year) were having their way with the Red Kettle and won the first two games – only one more game to win the match. (The first team to win 3 games wins the match).

Although morale was down for the Red Kettle, husband and wife Kyle Owen and Lindsay Owen were not going to go down that easily. They motivated the team and led them to throw in a one-game victory. It was now 2-1 for Idyllwild Garage who still needed just one game to win the match.

Then in another surprising turn of events, after a Braveheart-like speech from coach Kyle Owen, the Red Kettle managed to win yet another game, making it now tied at 2-2. This will have to go into a 5^(th) game tie-breaker. Winner takes all.

With a full head of steam and a never-give-up attitude, the underdogs (Red Kettle) did not look like underdogs in the final game – more like a vicious rabid dogs foaming at the mouths for the victory. And in a close fifth game, it was (yes indeed) the Red Kettle who came from a 0-2 deficit to win 3 games straight and vanquish over Idyllwild Garage 3-2!

Unbelievable. You’ve got to love this sport. Always believe and never give up.

I caught up with coach Kyle Owen in a telephone interview after the game and asked him what the strategy was when they were down 2 games to 0. Here is his reply:

“Honestly, the whole strategy about this year in volleyball is that we are here to have fun. Don’t take anything personally, and with that, we will be victorious. To me it’s more about the community having fun, not really about who wins the trophy.”

Well said, coach Kyle. Well said.

ICC Adult Volleyball Standings