March Madness comes early to Crescent City

Coaches Ashley Reyes celebrates with the Smith River Wildcats squad after placing first in the B-2 Division at the Jaycees Cheerleading Competition March 7 during the 8th Grade Boys Basketball Tournament. Courtesy photo.

The Redwood Red Raiders eighth-grade boys basketball team won first and the cheerleading squad took second Saturday in the A-2 Division at the 2020 Crescent City Jaycees tournament. Courtesy photo.

March Madness comes early to Crescent City

The 2020 Crescent City Jaycees 8th Grade Basketball Tournament last weekend featured a field of 64 teams with eight divisions of eight teams each, the most in its 52-year history.

The Redwood Reds were the lone local team to bring home first-place trophy, defeating Azalea 32-31 in the championship game of the A-2 division Saturday evening at Del Norte High School’s Thunen Gymnasium.

The Crescent Elk A’s defeated Riley Creek in A-2 Division third-place game. The Crescent Elk B’s defeated Trinity Valley 51-47 in the third-place game of the C-1 division.

Smith River fell to Big Spring 48-30 in the third-place game of the B-2 division.

The Crescent Elk C’s defeated the Redwood White’s 28-21 in the C-2 division consolation championship game.

Mountain School defeated Uncharted Shores Academy 42-36 to finish seventh place in the C-2 division.

Local squads also did well in the cheerleading competition. The Crescent Elk Cougars won the A-2 Division and the Smith River Wildcats came out on top in the B-2 Division. The Redwood Raiders placed second in the A-2 Division.