From Tuesday, Dec. 10 to Saturday, Dec. 14, SCHS hosted the Warren Johnson Memorial Tip-Off Classic. This was the 15th annual varsity tournament and 13th annual junior varsity tournament. Formerly known as the SC Tip-Off Classic, the tournament’s name was changed to the Warren Johnson Memorial Tip-Off Classic after the passing of former Santa Clara physical education teacher Warren Johnson.
Previously, the tournament included both boys and girls basketball. Now, it showcases eight teams and eight different schools but only girls basketball. Junior varsity girls basketball coach Saheed Mohamed enjoys the opportunity for SCHS to have the tournament as it is a fun experience for his athletes and an effective fundraiser for the program.
“I think it’s really fun, real exciting,” Mohamed said. “It’s really busy, but it’s a good fundraiser tournament.”
The tournament has proved to have been a great financial opportunity for both the varsity and JV girls basketball teams.
“One hundred percent of it (revenue) goes to the home team. We have to pay (to host the tournament), and then everything else raised goes to the girls basketball team.” Mohamed said.
Being one of the main funding sources, the Warren Johnson Memorial Tip-Off Classic has been able to provide improved funding for SCHS’s girls basketball teams, according to varsity girls basketball coach DeeDee Kiyota.
“We do SnapRaise and we do this tournament, and those two things. Basically, we use all that money to buy gear for the girls,” Kiyota said.
The tournament has also provided community service opportunities for SCHS students. Senior Nathan Lei was able to work as a scorekeeper for the event. Lei thought that the opportunity to volunteer for the tournament was not just about the volunteer hours but getting to see how it benefits SCHS athletes.
“I appreciate the fact that having tournaments here benefits our athletes, particularly on our girls basketball teams,” Lei said.
The tournament ended with SCHS girls JV and varsity teams acquiring fourth place. Kiyota feels the team performed well despite the age and experience level of the team.
“We start four sophomores, so we are a super young varsity team,” Kiyota said. “I thought we did pretty well. You know, finishing fourth out of eight, right in the middle.”
The first place trophy went to Notre Dame High School in San Jose, winning the JV bracket. Monta Vista won in the varsity bracket.
With the tournament coming to an end, many feel the opportunity provided by the events on campus has given a great opportunity to showcase SCHS and many other schools’ girls basketball programs.
“Here, it really shines a light on girls basketball as a whole,” Lei said.