Tip Off Classic 2016 Results and Players Of The Game

2016 Tip Off Classic Results / Players of the Game

After the seven-game tournament, event organizer Gerry Freitas mused, ““The event went very well. Thanks to all the teams! It was a deep pool of talent-maybe the deepest in the ten years of the event.”

Game 1: Monte Vista 68, St. Patrick’s 58

Player of the game: Austin Fadal from Monte Vista

Game 2: Dublin 75, Las Lomas 64

Player of the game: Jack Nielsen from Dublin

Game 3: Christian Brothers 70, Berkeley 59

Player of the game: Andre Albason from Christian Brothers

Game 4: Moreau Catholic 72, Immanuel 63

Player of the game: Kyree Walker from Moreau Catholic

Game 5: Capital Christian 82, Bishop Alemany 71 (Overtime)

Player of the game: Zach Chappell from Capital Christian 

Game 6: Woodcreek 80, Newark Memorial 52

Player of the game: Jordan Brown from Woodcreek

Game 7: Bishop O’Dowd 70, Bishop Montgomery 63

Player of the game: Elijah Hardy from Bishop O’Dowd

10th annual Nor Cal Tip Off Classic to honor former Bishop O’Dowd coach Mike Phelps

Former Bishop O’Dowd coach Mike Phelps will be honored in a special pre-game ceremony of the feature game seven between O’Dowd and nationally-ranked Bishop Montgomery of Torrance. The contest is scheduled to start at 8:30 pm on November 26.In honor of the tenth anniversary of the event, the Nor Cal Tip Off Classic has chosen to honor one of the all time great coaching legends in Northern California and state history.

Mike Phelps left the high school basketball coaching profession where he belonged: at the very top, with a remarkable 843 wins against just 196 defeats.

Phelps coached 22 seasons at O’Dowd (1979-1990) and seven seasons at St. Joseph’s-Notre Dame (1971-1978). At age 56 he left coaching as the all-time leader in victories among California coaches. Phelps was later passed by Mater Dei’s Gary McKnight who is still active and reached win number 1000 on December 14, 2014.

Phelps won a record 12 North Coast Section championships and was selected Cal-Hi Sports state coach of the year in 1986, when his Dragons went 31-5. During his entire career at O’Dowd his teams won at least 20 games every season. He was a model of consistency.

Far beyond all the numbers and accolades were the players and coaches whom he influenced and taught the game he loved so much. He taught and coached in a completely giving and humble manner.

“It’s not about me and never has been,” Phelps told the San Francisco Chronicle in 2002. “˜I’ve always said it’s always been about the kids”¦ It’s about the looks on the kids’ faces after the game. How they feel about themselves and each other. I’ve been lucky enough to coach some very good and talented kids over the years.”

Current head coach Lou Richie played for Phelps at O’Dowd from 1987-1989 (losing in the state championship game in 1988 to Manual Arts of Los Angeles at the buzzer) and went on to play at UCLA and Clemson.

Richie, who was Phelps’ assistant coach for two years at O’Dowd, considers him to be his mentor in the game of basketball and holds him in the highest regard. “Nobody teaches the game like coach Phelps,” Richie said during Phelps’ final season. “There’s no one more respected.”

For further information on Mike Phelps or the Nor Cal Tip Off Classic contact event director Gerry Freitas by email: gerryfreitas@hotmail.com.