Middle school basketball tournament sparks fun, competition, connection
The gyms at Aliso Niguel, San Juan Hills and Tesoro were filled with the sounds of squeaking sneakers, bouncing basketball and cheering fans, but the players were not the normal Wolverines, Stallions or Titans. Middle school students earned the right to represent their schools in the first-ever CUSD Middle School Basketball Tournament.
Each middle school held a preliminary tournament, with boys and girls teams competing for the grade championship. The winners then represented their school in the District tournament, which was split into three divisions:
North: Aliso Viejo, Don Juan Avila, Newhart, Niguel Hills
South: Bernice Ayer, Ladera Ranch, Marco Forster, Shorecliffs
TK-8: Esencia, Carl Hankey, Las Flores, Arroyo Vista, Vista Del Mar
The teams spent the afternoon competing in double-elimination tournaments at the high schools, with members of the boys and girls teams from the high schools volunteering as referees.
Champions
K-8 Division
South Division
North Division
8th Boys
Vista Del Mar
Aliso Viejo
8th Girls
Las Flores
Marco Forster
Aliso Viejo
7th Boys
Vista Del Mar
Shorecliffs
Niguel Hills
7th Girls
Las Flores
No Teams
Aliso Viejo
6th Boys
Vista Del Mar
Ladera Ranch
Niguel Hills
6th Girls
Esencia
Aliso Viejo
A Bernice Ayer player runs point during a game in the Middle School Basketball Tournament South at San Juan Hills on Thursday, October 26, 2023.A Bernice Ayer player shoots a running jumper in the Middle School Basketball Tournament South at San Juan Hills on Thursday, October 26, 2023.A deep jumper by a Bernice Ayer player in the Middle School Basketball Tournament South at San Juan Hills on Thursday, October 26, 2023.A Shorecliffs leads his offense in a game in the Middle School Basketball Tournament South at San Juan Hills on Thursday, October 26, 2023.A Shorecliffs player dribbles the ball up the court in the Middle School Basketball Tournament South at San Juan Hills on Thursday, October 26, 2023.Las Flores players warm up before their game in the Middle School Basketball Tournament TK-8 at Tesoro on Thursday, October 26, 2023.A Newhart player takes a rest between games at the Middle School Basketball Tournament North MS at Aliso Niguel on Thursday, October 26, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez)Aliso Viejo Middle School players celebrate after winning their game against Don Juan Avila in the Middle School Basketball Tournament North at Aliso Niguel on Thursday, October 26, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez)The Aliso Viejo Middle School coach sends one of his players into the game against Don Juan Avila in the Middle School Basketball Tournament North at Aliso Niguel on Thursday, October 26, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez)An Aliso Viejo Middle School player, center, steals the ball away from a Don Juan Avila player in the Middle School Basketball Tournament North at Aliso Niguel on Thursday, October 26, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez)An Aliso Viejo Middle School player reacts after scoring a basket against Don Juan Avila in the Middle School Basketball Tournament North at Aliso Niguel on Thursday, October 26, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez)A Don Juan Avila player takes a jump shot against Aliso Viejo Middle School in the Middle School Basketball Tournament North at Aliso Niguel on Thursday, October 26, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez)An Aliso Viejo Middle School players, left, looks to steal the ball away from a Don Juan Avila player in the Middle School Basketball Tournament North at Aliso Niguel on Thursday, October 26, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez)A Don Juan Avila player, center, puts up a jump shot past Aliso Viejo Middle School defenders in the Middle School Basketball Tournament North at Aliso Niguel on Thursday, October 26, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez)An Aliso Viejo Middle School player, right, protects the ball after grabbing a loose ball away from a Newhart player in the Middle School Basketball Tournament North at Aliso Niguel on Thursday, October 26, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez)A Newhart player, left, drives around an Aliso Viejo Middle School player in the Middle School Basketball Tournament North at Aliso Niguel on Thursday, October 26, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez)An Aliso Viejo Middle School player, left, gets past a Newhart player to put up a shot in the Middle School Basketball Tournament North at Aliso Niguel on Thursday, October 26, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez)An Aliso Viejo Middle School player, right, tries to put up a shot as a Newhart player defends in the Middle School Basketball Tournament North at Aliso Niguel on Thursday, October 26, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez)A Niguel Hills player, left, passes the ball against Aliso Viejo Middle School in the Middle School Basketball Tournament North at Aliso Niguel on Thursday, October 26, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez)A Niguel Hills player, right, looks to put up a shot in front of an Aliso Viejo Middle School player in the Middle School Basketball Tournament North at Aliso Niguel on Thursday, October 26, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez)An Aliso Viejo Middle School player gets ready to pass the ball against Niguel Hills in the Middle School Basketball Tournament North at Aliso Niguel on Thursday, October 26, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez)An Aliso Viejo Middle School player, center, drives past a Niguel Hills defender in the Middle School Basketball Tournament North at Aliso Niguel on Thursday, October 26, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez)An Aliso Viejo Middle School player, left, grabs the rebound in front of a Niguel Hills player in the Middle School Basketball Tournament North at Aliso Niguel on Thursday, October 26, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez)A Niguel Hills player drives the ball against Aliso Viejo Middle School in the Middle School Basketball Tournament North MS in Aliso Viejo on Thursday, October 26, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez)A Newhart player takes a shot against Don Juan Avila in the Middle School Basketball Tournament North MS in Aliso Viejo on Thursday, October 26, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez)A Don Juan Avila player, left, and a Newhart player fight for a rebound in the Middle School Basketball Tournament North MS in Aliso Viejo on Thursday, October 26, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez)Don Juan Avila players celebrate their win over Newhart in the Middle School Basketball Tournament North MS in Aliso Viejo on Thursday, October 26, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez)A Don Juan Avila player, left, tries to put up a shot against a Newhart defender in the Middle School Basketball Tournament North MS in Aliso Viejo on Thursday, October 26, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez)A Niguel Hills player drives the ball during the Middle School Basketball Tournament North MS in Aliso Viejo on Thursday, October 26, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez)Esencia and Arroyo Vista girls players cheer on their boys teams during the Middle School Basketball Tournament TK-8 at Tesoro on Thursday, October 26, 2023.An Arroyo Vista player defends an Esencia player during the Middle School Basketball Tournament TK-8 at Tesoro on Thursday, October 26, 2023.Arroyo Vista runs the fastbreak against Esencia in a game of the Middle School Basketball Tournament TK-8 at Tesoro on Thursday, October 26, 2023.An Esencia girls team cheers on their boys teammates playing in the Middle School Basketball Tournament TK-8 at Tesoro on Thursday, October 26, 2023.A Carl Hankey player takes a jumper in the paint in the Middle School Basketball Tournament TK-8 at Tesoro on Thursday, October 26, 2023.The Esencia boys 6th grade team at the Middle School Basketball Tournament TK-8 at Tesoro on Thursday, October 26, 2023.A Vista Del Mar player scores in the paint in the Middle School Basketball Tournament TK-8 at Tesoro on Thursday, October 26, 2023.The Carl Hankey 8th grade team at the Middle School Basketball Tournament TK-8 at Tesoro on Thursday, October 26, 2023.Vista Del Mar and Las Flores tip-off a game at the Middle School Basketball Tournament TK-8 at Tesoro on Thursday, October 26, 2023.A Marco Forster player looks to pass in the Middle School Basketball Tournament South at San Juan Hills on Thursday, October 26, 2023.Ladera Ranch players high five after a basket in the Middle School Basketball Tournament South at San Juan Hills on Thursday, October 26, 2023.Marco Forster huddles before their game at the Middle School Basketball Tournament South at San Juan Hills on Thursday, October 26, 2023.Bernice Ayer players warm up before their game in the Middle School Basketball Tournament South at San Juan Hills on Thursday, October 26, 2023.A Marco Forester player looks to pass in a game at the Middle School Basketball Tournament South at San Juan Hills on Thursday, October 26, 2023.A Ladera Ranch players drives hard to the basket in the Middle School Basketball Tournament South at San Juan Hills on Thursday, October 26, 2023.Shorecliffs principal Josh Wellikson meets with his Seahawks team after a win at the Middle School Basketball Tournament South at San Juan Hills on Thursday, October 26, 2023.A Ladera Ranch player passes to a teammate at the the Middle School Basketball Tournament South at San Juan Hills on Thursday, October 26, 2023.Marco Forster and Bernice Ayer face off in a game at the Middle School Basketball Tournament South at San Juan Hills on Thursday, October 26, 2023.A Marco Forester player on a fastbreak layup during the Middle School Basketball Tournament South at San Juan Hills on Thursday, October 26, 2023.
