PREP NOTES

Los Alamitos Coach John Barnes told Griffin players to shower with their clothes on after the game.

“Their shoes, helmets, jerseys, everything was covered with mud,” he said. “We sent them into the showers with everything on. Some of them were washing out the insides of the helmets.

“It was like playing in three-inch deep chocolate syrup out there. It was terrible.”

Los Alamitos meets Katella in an Empire League game at 7:30 tonight at Veterans Stadium.

Figure out how to pack for this Christmas vacation: from Dec. 17-31, Capistrano Valley’s basketball team will play in tournaments in Kissimmee, Fla., and Lincoln, Neb., as well as a game against Fremont (Neb.) High.

The two-week trip will include as many as nine games, more than 6,000 miles in travel and climates ranging from the mid-80s in Florida to possible sub-zero temperatures in Nebraska.

“It’ll be a fun trip for us,” Cougar Coach Mark Thornton said. “We’re packing for two climates, and we aren’t taking much luggage. Logistically, we’re going to have to plan this one out.”

The trip starts with the Great Florida Shootout Dec. 18-23 in Kissimmee, which is just outside Orlando. The tournament is considered one of the best in the country.

The Cougars then will stop in Nebraska to play Fremont High on Dec. 26, then compete in the inaugural Nebraska Holiday Prep Classic Dec. 28-31.

The 16-team tournament features teams from Nebraska, Gainesville, Fla., Wichita Falls, Tex., Lexington, Ky., Little Rock, Ark., and Tulsa, Okla. Charlotte (N.C.) Christian High, coached by former Philadelphia 76er Bobby Jones, also is scheduled to play.

“The Nebraska tournament is paying the whole way for 15 players and coaches,” Thornton said. “We’ll raise some money on our own because we’re bringing six sets of parents with us.

“The Florida tournament is paying for our rooms and putting $1,000 toward our trip.”