Ten days until the MaxPreps Holiday Classic: 10 shooters

The format will change, the pace will be faster and the magic numbers is 10.

Ten days are left until the 12th annual MaxPreps Holiday Classic and today we celebrate the 10 finalists for the 3-point shooting contest.

Last season, the MPHC indeed went long range to find its finalist as It was for Calvin Hoffman as well. The Anchorage Christian senior won the 3-point contest with 21 points, to win over Bea Bommarito of Christian Brothers (St. Louis, Mo.) with 19, and Marcus Williams of Wenonah (Birmingham, Ala.) with 15.

The girls champions were closer to the Palm Springs (Calif.) home where the MPHC takes place. Abby Conklin, of San Juan Hills (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.), won it with 17 points and Alexandra Lewis of Laguna Beach (Calif.) was second (11 points).



All but Lewis were seniors last season so we will have new champions and finalists. Last season, the contest was slowed somewhat by an automatic ball return opposed to racks. This season, it's back to the traditional five balls to a rack with a money ball.

Unlike previous years when the finals would precede the dunk contest, the long-range shooters will have a finals of their own at halftime of each semifinal game of the top Open Division at Rancho Mirage High School on Monday Dec. 29.

Preliminary 3-point scores will be taken throughout the five-day tournament, that features 128 teams that will play games at  seven venues around the Coachella Valley from Dec. 26-30. Four females and six males will be selected for the finals based upon preliminary scores.

"The 3-point and dunk contests add a ton of charm, fun and energy to the event," tournament co-director Wayne Merino said. "We get a lot of teams and players involved and feature some very specific skills to showcase."

Said MaxPreps host and director of marketing and MPHC co-coordinator Chris Stonebracker: "Every one loves to watch shooters. Especially against the clock."

A possible favorite heading in is Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.) sophomore Ali Iken, who has already made 21 3-pointers in the early going.Gahr (Cerritos, Calif.)) senior Jeremy Carlyle and Ocean View (Huntington Beach, Calif.) freshman Bryson Betti have made 19. 

Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) 6-3, 215-pound sophomore Adam Seiko might be a long-range champion threat as well. He made 6 of 7 3-pointers in his team's only game this season. Last season as a freshmen he made 19 of 47 from beyond the arc.

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Always stacked with top California teams, the Classic has evolved into a global high school basketball extravaganza. Teams from 30 states and six countries have participated in the event during its decade-plus run. Entries from Germany and Spain will be part of the 2014 proceedings.

In addition to Mater Dei, which went 35-0 en route to its fourth consecutive state title last season, other headliners include Texas private school state champion Prestonwood Christian (Plano), California section champions Archbishop Mitty (San Jose), Folsom, JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano) and Moreau Catholic (Hayward).

Sierra Canyon is another program to watch after going 29-4 a year ago with a rotation that featured four freshmen — including MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year Cody Riley — and sophomore point guard Devearl Ramsey, a USA Basketball gold medalist.

The Open Division will also feature state championship hopefuls from Georgia, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.



Palm Springs and the surrounding Coachella Valley is one of the premier resort destinations in the United States. It's a haven for golf enthusiasts and home to numerous festivals and conventions — including the famed Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival held in nearby Indio.

For additional information, visit MaxPrepsHolidayClassic.com, like us on Facebook, follow on Twitter @MPHolClass or Instagram @maxpreps_holiday_classic.