State Finals May Splash in Pond

The state basketball tournament begins tonight with the Southern and Northern regionals. It concludes March 17-18 at Oakland amid news that the finals may be headed back to the Southland.

Margaret Davis, associate commissioner of the California Interscholastic Federation, said she is recommending the tournament finals be played at The Pond of Anaheim in 1997. If her plan is approved, it would mark the first time championship games would be held locally since 1983, when they were played at the Sports Arena. “I think it is finally time to start alternating the finals between Northern and Southern California,” Davis said. “That is what I’m advising to our council.”

Since the tournament was resurrected in 1981, the finals have regularly been played in Northern California, most frequently at the Oakland Coliseum Arena. But that arena will get a face-lift later this year and will not be available next season.

The CIF has reserved Arco Arena in Sacramento for the finals in 1996 and has put a tentative hold on The Pond for ’97.

“I’m negotiating a contract with Anaheim as we speak and hope to finalize it soon,” Davis said.

The finals were not well received at the Sports Arena in 1983, which is why the CIF kept them in the Bay Area, where they have received strong fan support. Ray Ball, tournament director, also supports Davis’ plan, which bodes well for its passage at an Executive Committee meeting later this month.