LA Watts Summer Games First Rounds Create Heated Competition Among 300 Southern California High Schools

Business Wire, June 3, 2001

Sports Editors/Youth Sports Writers

LOS ANGELES--(BW SportsWire)--June 2, 2001

The kick off of the 34th Annual LA Watts Summer Games was action packed and featured intense competition and great sportsmanship in the first rounds of the largest high school competition in the nation. Games were held at LA Southwest College, Cerritos College and 16 Los Angeles area high schools.

First round games occurred for approximately 300 teams traveling from 100 California communities. Sports included boys and girls basketball, soccer, tennis as well as girls waterpolo, boys volleyball, baseball and softball.

Some unfamiliar competition took place between teams that normally don't compete against each other. The unlikely match up of Channel Islands and Ontario girls basketball proved to be an exciting game with Channel Islands walking away with the win. Says Oxnard junior forward, Nikki Sims of why the LA Watts Summer Games is a fun tournament, "We get to meet new teams we have never played before." Top nationally ranked Narbonne was the powerhouse of the day and may reach the finals with their strong offense and equally impressive defense.

Baseball offered a pitchers duel between Carson and Alhambra with a 0 - 0 score until the bottom of the 7th. Alhambra walked-in Carson's only run with the bases loaded and two outs to take the game.

Sudden death playoffs in overtime created a heated match between Eisenhower and Peninsula girls waterpolo. Eisenhower took the win and will return in tomorrow at LA Southwest College for the finals. Another tense overtime game took place in football between Jefferson and last year's champion Dominguez "It resulted in a tough, aggressive and talented display of athleticism and sportsmanship," said Dwaine Harris, Volunteer Chairman of the Football tournament.

More excitement is expected with second round games scheduled for June 3 again at LA Southwest College, Cerritos College and all 16 high schools. Check www.lajcc.org for detailed information or call the Games Headquarter offices at 323/241-5495. Results for June 2 are as follows - schedule for June 3 will be distributed on June 3 in the morning: