GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - Manzanita Elementary School held their annual Manzanita Invitational Basketball Tournament on Saturday, January 18, 2020. This annual round robin tournament hosts both boys and girls basketball from the surrounding area of 7th grade and 8th grade basketball players. This year’s tournament included Sycamore Middle School (boys and girls), Biggs Middle School (boys and girls), Ishi Hills Middle School (girls), Live Oak Middle School (boys), and host, Manzanita Elementary School (boys and girls). The boys and girls from each school gave the packed crowds an intense and exciting show for twelve hours straight. Each game was 32-minutes in length with girls and boys alternating on the court each game. 

The girls got their tournament started with the first game of the day between Biggs and Sycamore. Biggs went on to win 25-9. In the second game for the girls, Biggs tipped off against Manzanita. Biggs again won by a score of 12-4. Biggs and Ishi Hills fought in a nailbiter for the third game for the girls, with Biggs winning 16-13. With Biggs beating all three teams, they claimed first place in the tournament. Manzanita took on Ishi Hills in the fourth game, with Ishi Hills winning 12-10. Sycamore and Ishi Hills battled in the fifth game, with Sycamore winning 14-10. In the last girl’s game between Manzanita and Sycamore, with the winner taking second place in the tournament, Sycamore defeated Manzanita 29-11.

Biggs took first place, Sycamore took second place, Ishi Hills took third place, and Manzanita took fourth place. Ally Williams, of Biggs, took home the Most Valuable Player award. Kloe Seipert (Biggs), Gisselle Fuentes (Sycamore), Madalyn Robertson (Ishi Hills), and Allex Speer (Manzanita), all took home All-Tourney awards. 

For the boys’ tournament, Manzanita tipped off against Biggs for the first game. Manzanita went on to win 31-18. In the second game, Sycamore took on Live Oak in a close contest, with Sycamore pulling out the 31-28 win. Manzanita took on Live Oak in the third game, with a 35-29 Manzanita victory. In the fourth game, Sycamore and Biggs faced off, with Sycamore winning 35-11. In the fifth game, Live Oak took on Biggs, with Live Oak winning 33-14. The last game of the evening set up a winner takes all match-up between Manzanita and Sycamore. For the last game of the evening, and for first and second place in the boy’s tournament, this game was an intense back and forth nailbiter. Tied at 17-17 apiece at halftime, after some huge 3-point shots from both teams, Sycamore went on to win 36-34 to claim first place. Manzanita took second place in the tournament, with Live Oak taking third place, and Biggs taking fourth place.

Carson Wallace, of Sycamore, took home the Most Valuable Player award. Emmet Smallwood (Sycamore), Aaron Kullar (Manzanita), Noah Cuevas (Live Oak), and Chase McLean (Biggs), all took home All-Tourney awards. 

Manzanita Athletic Director, Laura Sannar, would like to give a special thank you to the local businesses for their generous donations to the concessions this year:

Safeway, Casa Lupe, Starbucks, Live Oak Donuts, Sav Mor, and the Sherwood Family, as well as, the Manzanita parents that made donations for the event. All proceeds from the concessions go to the 6th grade class at Manzanita;

Another special thank you to the Manzanita Boosters Club for sponsoring the tournament. The parents, grandparents, and friends who worked real hard to fundraise for the athletic programs at the school. Manzanita Boosters Club Officers: EmmaLee Bowling (President), Bree Kelly (Vice President), Heather Yost (Secretary), Amanda Hansen (Treasurer), and Libby Tolman (Publicity);

Lastly, a special thank you to JoAnne Engelmann (Concessions Chair), Ravi Kullar (Entry Table Chair), and all the parents who volunteered their time at the door and concessions. Without all the volunteers, donations, Boosters, referees, and school participants, this tournament wouldn’t be such a great success.