Reynolds Classic opens today

billreynoldsclassicSailors’ and Mustangs’ boys’ basketball teams will begin play in the tournament today at Newport Harbor High. The boys’ varsity teams from Newport Harbor High and Costa Mesa are among those competing in the fourth annual Bill Reynolds Classic Basketball Tournament, which starts today at Newport Harbor High and Fullerton High.

The tournament was conceived by Reynolds’ former players as a big “thank you” for how much he meant to them as their coach.

Reynolds spent 31 seasons as a coach for Southern California College -- now Vanguard University -- Bolsa Grande High and La Quinta High.

Newport Harbor Coach Larry Hirst, Pleasant Grove Coach Randy McAllister and El Toro Coach Todd Dixon -- all participants in the tournament -- played for Reynolds at Southern California College.

“I was extra-conscious of the young men we brought into the school,” Reynolds said. “Larry, Todd and Randy typify the kind of quality guys we had there.”

Reynolds started coaching the La Quinta High frosh/soph boys’ basketball team before working his way up to the varsity level.

He landed a position as an assistant coach at Southern California College in 1980, then became the head coach for the 1981-82 season, replacing Ed Moriarty, who retired.

As a head coach at Southern California College, Reynolds was 353-185, the best winning percentage of any coach at a four-year college or university in Orange County.

“You can only say thanks to a person so many times,” Hirst said. “Sometimes you have to let actions speak for you. We felt the tournament was the best way to honor him.”

Reynolds, who is retired, is currently battling Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and going through cancer treatment.

“It’s been a challenge, but I’m still here,” Reynolds said. “I’m taking it one day at a time.”

Reynolds, who hopes to make it to a game or two, is honored to have the tournament named after him.

“Initially, I thought it was quite unusual,” Reynolds said. “I thought, hey, am I deceased? Am I over the hill? [But I appreciate it]. It’s a very nice tribute.”

What was Reynolds’ secret to success at SCC, where the enrollment was usually around 1,000 during his tenure?

“NAIA is challenging. You have limited resources,” he said. “I tried to get quality young men who could succeed in class and compete at a high level. We’d schedule games with Division I schools to help identify us as a better draw, and before long we became established and competitive.”

Fullerton High is co-hosting the Bill Reynolds Classic this year with Newport Harbor. Both schools’ tournament’s were stuck with six teams, so they decided to combine the two to assure that each team would play four games in the 12-team field.

The tournament opened Monday at Fullerton High. Fullerton, Tustin, American, Marina, Brea and La Serna are in the Fullerton High bracket.

Newport Harbor, Costa Mesa, Peninsula, Pleasant Grove (Utah), El Toro and Highland (Arizona) are in the Newport Harbor High bracket.

Action starts at 5:30 p.m. today in the Newport Harbor High bracket when the Sailors take on Peninsula. Costa Mesa faces El Toro at 7 p.m.

Newport tips off against Pleasant Grove at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Costa Mesa takes on Highland at 7 p.m. Thursday. The championship game is slated for 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Fullerton High.

The all-tournament team and MVP award presentation will take place following the championship game Saturday night.