Gila Ridge hosts first summer tournament

School may be out, but the roundball is in.

Gila Ridge is hosting its first summer boys basketball tournament today and Saturday at its gym, with seven schools competing - including five Yuma County teams.

Hawks coach Derek Bosch said he and the school didn't hesitate hosting a tournament after Yuma High decided not to host one as it had in the past.

 "I jumped on the opportunity right away simply because we wanted to keep a tournament in Yuma, especially with all the budget issues." Bosch said. "It gives everybody in Yuma the chance to play an inexpensive tournament and not have to travel very far."

The Hawks, Cibola, Yuma Catholic, Antelope and San Luis will be at the tournament, as will El Centro-Southwest. Rounding out the field is Lake Havasu, which will be a Gila Valley Region foe of the Hawks, Raiders and Sidewinders next year.

Bosch said summer tournaments are important to the development of any team.

"These summer tournaments are very important to a program because the kids get valuable playing time," Bosch said. "Most of the learning is done in the summer if the coach wants to implement some new strategies."

It's not just the players that will be learning either. Bosch said the tournament will be used to train new officials as well.

"It's kind of a training for them too to come out in the summer and get some games in," Bosch said. "Normally they do a camp, a training seminar, but they didn't have enough guys to do it this year."

Friday's Games
Noon- Southwest vs. Antelope
1 p.m.- Gila Ridge vs. Yuma Catholic
2 p.m.- San Luis vs. Lake Havasu
3 p.m.- Southwest vs. Cibola
4 p.m.- Antelope vs. San Luis
5 p.m.- Gila Ridge vs. Lake Havasu
6 p.m.- Cibola vs. Yuma Catholic

Saturday's Games
9 a.m.- Lake Havasu vs. Yuma Catholic
10 a.m.- Cibola vs. San Luis
11 a.m.- Southwest vs. Gila Ridge
Noon - Antelope vs. Yuma Catholic
1 p.m.- Lake Havasu vs. Cibola
2 p.m.- Gila Ridge vs. Antelope
3 p.m.- San Luis vs. Southwest