Calabasas to Play Lots of Hoops Over Xmas Break

School’s out for winter break, but boys basketball team is busier than ever. The Coyotes play eight games over an 11-day span beginning Tuesday night at Indio in the annual Palm Springs tournament.

The Coyotes (6-0) are off to a great start, and now they’ll learn what it feels like to play at NBA-type schedule. Calabasas plays four games in four days in Palm Springs, then after a three-day Christmas break, returns Dec. 27 for four games in four days at the Oaks Christian tournament in Westlake Village.

“I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else,” forward Josh Cohan said.

The players will stay in hotel together in Palm Springs, living out of a suitcase and playing hoops every day, just like Kobe Bryant.

“It’s going to feel like the NBA lockout is over,” Calabasas coach Jon Palarz said. “I love it because it’s the first time we’re doing something like this with this group.”

The Palm Springs tournament features 16 teams. Calabasas is a favorite, along with Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Bishop Montgomery and a few others.

“We’re going to give it our best shot,” Palarz said.

Tournaments like these are a good way for teams to bond, especially at the high school level where a team’s mood and other intangibles can often be the difference between winning and losing.

“Our whole team has been looking forward to this,” Calabasas guard Jeremy Lieberman said. “It’s crazy, playing eight games in 11 days, but it’s going to help us a lot and bring us all together. We’re all already really good friends, and this is going to make our chemistry even better, our bonding even stronger. I think we’ll be all right.”

Cohan, Lieberman and Spencer Levy are three of Calabasas’ top returning players.

GOOD TIME FOR A BREAK

boys basketball team is on a winter break, and perhaps the timing is just right. After a hot start that included six wins over the first seven games, the Patriots are coming off two one-sided defeats to powerful opponents; a 78-46 loss Friday to Pacific Hills, preceded by a 71-40 loss to Village Christian.

Plus, Viewpoint is healing. Top returning scorer Jack Borenstein is coming back from a shoulder injury, and Jonny Paul (ankle) is also on the mend.

Borenstein is scheduled for an MRI on Friday.

CALABASAS’ PIERCE, JONES EARN ALL-MARMONTE FOOTBALL HONORS

Calabasas linebacker Jordan Pierce and running back Tyson Jones have been named to the All-Marmonte League second-team. Pierce, a junior, had 140 tackles, four sacks and three forced fumbles. Jones, a junior, rushed for 495 yards and also had nine receptions.

Calabasas (1-9) was the only team in the 10-team league without a first-team selection.

Also, in girls volleyball, Calabasas’ Lauren Goss was named third-team All-Marmonte League.