Someone find the SpinDog and let's get CONQUEST playing in the background for this one!

First, let's start with the Boys 6th at the AVAC Sizzling Summer Classic!

You can all read Cyn-City Kojaku's report on the Sports Page later, but suffice to say; for once, she is RIGHT-ON! For Once.

The Boys 6th began their weekend believing that they might only have 6 players available in this very tough tournament.

In the Boys 6th division was our old nemesis and highly regarded buddies from Bell, the Southeastern Warriors.

There was the monster club from Aim High and our new friend, Kenny Smith of NBA fame.

There was another monster club from San Diego who just recently conquered the Arizona tournament on Memorial Day; SoCal Motion.

Those three and they were all in our pool!

I must remember to give my thanks to my good buddy, Gary Thomas of AVAC for that one.

ANYWAY... WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENS?

Well, Andrew Taira comes galloping in from nowhere and gives up a family graduation party to come help his team.

Nikko of our Boys 7th (who is young enough to play on the 6th grade level) helps out and plays FOUR games on Saturday in 105 degree weather!

WOW!

With that love and support, is it any wonder that...

WE TOOK FIRST PLACE IN OUR POOL!

Yes, Moms and Dads, Cats and Dogs; our Boys 6th BEAT the Southeastern Warriors and then BEAT SoCal Motion.

We never got a shot at Aim High, but with the high we were on; you coulda brought them on too!

The only thing they coulda done is beat us, but the way we were playing, it woulda been a great match.

I mean we were driving to the hoop, shooting 3's, rebounding, defending, coast-to-coasting and serving ice cream in the lobby.

I am very happy for the Boys 6th and for the improvement that they are showing every tournament.

Not only that, but it may appear as if their roster is solidifying and jiggling like jello, and becoming just as sweet.

I am VERY, VERY proud of this group.

Like I said: 105 degree heat, very tough pool, a short roster with a lone 5TH GRADER as one of them (Big Nick Giordano), and a mother who sneaks the last steak from Hometown Buffet AFTER she gets the no-steak discount (who shall remain nameless to protect her poor 5th grade player/son who played this weekend on the Boys 6th), AND a coach who only knows how to take me to lunch at a McDonald's; add it all up and the only conclusion you can come to is that our Boys 6th had a MASTERCARD (PRICELESS) weekend of memories.

We all are very proud of you all.

Secondly...How Bout Dem Dogs!

We all know the pedigrees of the JYDS.

We knew they had only the purest of bloodlines, but in Lancaster, they got their papers too.

Now NO ONE can doubt the ferocity and the heart of any one of our JYDS.

Not after this weekend.

First, Brandon Chang decided that he would rather be a JYD than a lost child in the woods.

He was supposed to go camping last weekend and learn how to boil water, but decided he couldn't go and leave the JYDS hanging by themselves to face the Warriors, AVAC's Boys 4th (!), and the dreaded Cavs.

He told Mom and Dad that he was going to Lancaster and that was that!

You Go Growl Doggie!

So what happened?

As with every encounter with the JYDS, someone always gets chewed on.

The Warriors fell to the DogPound. AVAC's Boys 4th could only muster a mere 3 point win. The Cavs (after mauling the JYDS with their size by the 20's and 30's in the last few tournaments), could only take us down by 19.

Some would say the glass is only half full, but you all have to realize how seriously undersized our pups are.

Give us only one SGV-sized big boy and our Doggies will show you how tough it is to play in the Pound.

Special welcome to Will the Thrill for making his debut as the newest JunkYardDog.

All of us here in Knightsville know that the Thrill is for Real and we just can't wait until he begins his chapter in the Book of Knights with soon-to-be fabled stories of his b-ball exploits.

Now if the RoadDog could just stop the SpinDog from fighting with scorekeepers AND have the SpinDog stop bothering the Big Dog like a little chihuahua snipping at the BD's heels; the world of the Knight would be a special place to be.

The Boys High School JV's were howling and growling themselves this weekend.

After Saturday's games, the JV Knights were 2-0 and looking to do some damage as the #2 seed hoping to match up with #1 seed, Bakersfield Gladiators.

A funny thing happened on the way to the finals.

On Saturday night, both our Big Man, Daniel and our other Big Man, Vinay, found they couldn't make it Sunday.

That left us with ONLY FIVE PLAYERS and a tough matchup with THE WOOD standing in our way.

We lost the game, but won the respect of everyone who watched us.

With NO BIG GUYS, and only FIVE PLAYERS; we fought our way to a 3 point loss.

They didn't beat us...we just ran out of time and breath.

Great game out of all, but congrats to DeTaun who finally has gotten that Kobe-Feel when playing with the Knights.

He was simply spectacular in keeping us in the game throughout with his scoring and passing and rebounding.

Proud of all you guys. Happy for DeTaun.

Speaking of PROUD.

Here comes the Boys 8th.

Missing such key players as Sam, Quinn, and Nicholas; the Boys 8th still persevered by beating THE WOOD handily and then coming up against the highly ranked Boys 8th of Aim High. With a huge disadvantage in size, our boys found themselves down by 17 in the second half.

Did they quit?

By no means Horatio!

They stormed back with under 10 minutes to play and closing the gap to 3.

Unfortunately, we couldn't overcome that spread in the last seconds and fell by last minute freethrows to lose by 9.

A mere score sometimes doesn't tell the whole story.

Never quit, never quit, never quit.

That is a Knights Tale.

As impressive as all that was, the next day was even more incredible.

Playing the monstrous and top ranked SoCal Cavs, our team was down to six players on Sunday.

The game began as if the Cavs were going to blow us all the way back to San Pedro with layup after layup after layup.

Once again...16 points behind.

Once again...second half.

Surprise, surprise...our Boys 8th once again stormed back.

We, once again, cut the lead to 7, but alas, we fell short.

Anyone, though, see Edward go coast-to-coast against a fearsome double team and attack the huge center and score the same way...TWICE!

Anyone, though, see Jordan have such a wicked crossover that his defender FELL DOWN?

Well, you just had to see it to believe it.

Great job AGAIN team.

The Girls 8th played valiantly and tough and hard.

How hard?

Well, I almost had Kristen play point guard for the Knights Boys JV team!

I am so proud of these girls as they consistently play so hard.

They did finish 2nd.

As with all Knights teams, they never quit and always play hard.

The Boys 7th had a difficult weekend.

As Coach Duperron of North Torrance High says, everywhere you look on that team, there is significant talent.

This team, though, must learn how to play this game WITH an abundance of TALENT.

Actually playing without talent is sometimes easier as each player can then be assigned a "role."

When you have stars galore, the players need to be a little more knowledgeable on HOW to play WITH each other, and not to be a caddie for anyone.

Wanna know how hard it is?

Try watching an NBA All Star game.

It is hard, but it can be done.

Know how I know?

Our Boys 8th was just like that when they were Boys 7th.

Just a little time, a little patience, and a full dose of Coach Bob, which they will get in September.

Boys 7th-Get ready now because September will be here before you know it.

As you can tell by all this writing, this experience in Lancaster was an incredible one on all levels.

I can't ever remember a tournament in which so many memorable moments occurred on so many teams.

Thanks to all who made the sacrifices to go to this tournament.

It is greatly appreciated.

Now let's get ready for the BAD BOYZ-BAD GIRLZ next weekend.