Beach Ball Notebook: Quirky schedule will have teams playing four consecutive days

Due to a scheduling quirk because of where Sunday fell in this year’s tournament, four teams with a chance to win the Beach Ball Classic championship will have two days of rest between games, and four are faced with the daunting task of playing games on four consecutive days.

Many states don’t allow teams to play on Sunday, which has become the day to traditionally hold the dunk and 3-point shooting spectacles.

So the eight teams who played Saturday on opening night had Sunday off, and most of them also had Monday off, when the other eight teams played their opening-round games.

Montverde (Fla.), which has won the Dick's National High School Championship live on ESPN at Madison Square Garden in each of the past three years, is a beneficiary of the two days of rest.

“I think it would have been pretty difficult for us [to win four straight days],” said Montverde senior Micah Potter, an Ohio State signee. “We are in great shape and have a really deep bench, but -- at the same time -- playing four games in four days is a lot; it takes a toll. I think it would have been tough for us, but we got the win here and get a couple days off. I think we'll be fine.”

Mater Dei (Calif.), the top seed on the side of the bracket opposite Montverde, is among the teams faced with a possible four games in four days, as is Bartow (Fla.), whose coach Terrence McGriff isn’t looking past Tuesday’s quarterfinal game with Shadow Mountain (Ariz.).

“Title? We’ve got to get ready for tomorrow,” McGriff said. “As a coach, you don’t worry about the title game. You have long-range goals for your team as far as district, region, state. But when you’re in a tournament, it’s like we’re healthy? Check. We got a win? Check. We got some guys some confidence? Check. OK, let’s get ready for tomorrow.”

McGriff added that when you sign up for a tournament, part of the reason is you want to play a bunch of games in a short amount of time. “That will be a nice problem to have,” McGriff said.

According to Beach Ball executive director John Rhodes, New Jersey teams can’t play three consecutive days, so Seton Hall Prep had to play its quarterfinal game Sunday to avoid playing its final three games Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The Pirates defeated Moeller in the quarters, and its two days off are Monday and Tuesday.

Bibby back with purpose

A knee injury robbed Michael Bibby a chance to play in the 2014 Beach Ball Classic, but the Shadow Mountain (Ariz.) senior guard didn't need much time to have an impact this time around.

Bibby, whose father, Mike Bibby, serves as the team's head coach, scored 21 points and dished out eight assists in the Matadors' tournament opening victory over St. Edward (Ohio).

“I worked my way for almost a whole year to get back to playing for high school," the younger Bibby said. "Getting here and showcasing in front of these schools - it’s a good tournament - is a good opportunity for me.”

Mike Bibby, who is technically a volunteer coach for the school, returned to his alma mater after a stellar NBA career that lasted from 1998 through 2012. He scored just shy of 15,000 career points.

Michael Bibby returned from a meniscus tear and already has created plenty of attention of his own. He's currently received offers from the likes of Oregon, Southern Cal, Memphis and Gonzaga, and more could be on the way before the regular signing period opens in April.

Until then, he wants to make the most of his senior season, including his time finally getting on the court at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.

Eagles without leader

East Jackson High is playing in this year’s Beach Ball Classic without head coach David Boyd.

Boyd had a recent heart procedure and has missed five games leading into the Beach Ball and will return to the team for a game on Jan. 5. He is recuperating at a vacation home in the Georgia Brunswick Isles.

Boyd is a 32-year head coach who has 10 state title appearances and won the Beach Ball title in 2011 as the head coach at Milton High (Ga.).

Jason Rainey is the only official assistant on the team and is the head coach in his absence.

“There are certain things I do while he’s here. I’m trying to do the same things he would do,” Rainey said.

The Eagles (7-5) fell to Bartow (Fla.) 89-58 in their opening round game Monday night.

Keeping it 100

Replacing a legendary coach with nearly 800 career wins can never be an easy task.

But Seton Hall Prep (N.J.) head man Kevin Williams is doing a pretty good job filling the shoes of his predecessor Bob Farrell, who coached for 34 years and amassed 777 wins as coach of the Pirates.

Williams, an assistant under Farrell for 16 years, picked up his 100th overall victory as Seton Hall defeated Archbishop Moeller (Ohio) to advance to the semifinals of the Beach Ball Classic, a tournament in which Farrell is elected to its Hall of Fame.

“I didn’t know it until before the game; somebody walked up to me and told me it [would be] the 100th,” said Williams, who has a record of 100-14 in his fifth year with the Pirates. “It’s definitely a nice thing to have happen.”

Seton Hall senior TJ Gibbs, a Notre Dame signee, said he credits Williams for much of his development and hopes to keep learning under the coach before playing for the Fighting Irish next season.

“I love that guy. I’ve been with him for four years now and he has helped me grow as a player and as a person,” Gibbs said. “I’m glad I’m with him and I just hope I can continue to make the best of it and pick his mind as much as I possibly can.”

Gibbs came up big in the Pirates’ win over Moeller as he put up a game-high 13 points. Seton Hall took down St. James in the first round Saturday, and senior Zach Keller led the way with 22 points and Stephen Ferraro scored 16, while Gibbs had just five points in the opener.

Williams said he’s grateful for the talent and depth of his squad, which went 25-2 last season and won the Super Essex Conference American Division title, Essex County title, and was eliminated in Non Public Class A-North final.

Williams won the Non Public Class A-North final in his first year (2011-12) and has high hopes his talented squad can follow suit this season if they can continue to play tough defense.

“It’s a great bunch of kids. We have TJ obviously, but we have eight or nine other guys we can throw out there on a regular basis who just play hard. They’re committed to defend. We always kind of hang our hat on our defense. Some years we say it and don’t really do it, but this team really gets after it on the defensive end and is committed to it. So it’s nice to have those types of athletes.”

But first, Williams and the Pirates would like to keep putting on a show at the Beach Ball Classic. Seton Hall will take on the Montverde (Fla.)-St. Francis (Ga.) winner in the semifinals Wednesday at 7 p.m. It will be Williams’ and the Pirates’ toughest task yet.

“They’re both beasts,” Williams said of Montverde and St. Francis. “We’ll see what we can do. I know my guys will play hard, but it’s just great to play in a tournament like this and face the competition that’s down here because it will help us in our conference, our county and state tournaments when we get home. We’ve got great basketball in New Jersey, so this kind of prepares us for that when we get back.”

This story was originally published December 28, 2015 at 10:16 PM with the headline "Beach Ball Notebook: Quirky schedule will have teams playing four consecutive days."