Rattlers, Indians win big on second day of Desert Holiday Classic basketball tournament

Andrew L. John, Palm Springs Desert Sun
·3 min read

The boys’ basketball team at Rancho Mirage High School typically plays 50-60 exhibitions games and scrimmages during the summer and fall, prior to each basketball season. This year, with the limitations brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rattlers played only about a dozen times before the season began.

Now, 13 games into the 2021-22 season, the Rattlers (9-4) are still figuring out how good they can be. But on Tuesday evening at the Rancho Mirage Holiday Showcase, one of three tournaments held this week as part of the Desert Holiday Classic, Rob Hanmer’s squad caught a glimpse of how good it can be.

The Rattlers led Palo Verde Valley from start to finish in an 84-44 win on the second of the event’s four days of actions. Senior forward Mason Gossett led the Rattlers with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Ty Christian, a senior guard, added 15 points and senior forward Charles Munford finished with 13 points and six rebounds.

The game was the second among three games including teams from the eastern part of the Coachella Valley. In the first game, Palm Springs defeated Brawley, 56-17, behind 25 points from Jayden Creavalle and 15 from Tim Holyk.

In the third game, Cathedral City never led in an 83-46 loss to Torrance. Eathan Clogg scored a team-high 11 points, Frankie Valentino added 10 points, five rebounds and four assists and Lalo Moreno finished the game with nine.

The tournament is proceeding amid challenges presented by a recent surge in COVID-19 cases in the Coachella Valley. The top two scorers for Palm Springs sat out with COVID-19 and Hanmer, the Rattlers’ coach and tournament organizer, said that teams have been testing their players and that several teams have had positive tests.

“We’re doing everything we can to make sure everyone is safe,” Hanmer said. “People are being tested; we’re reminding everyone to wear masks — we’re giving masks away at the door. I think it’s gone as well as we could expect, given the circumstances.”

The annual tournament, typically one of the largest high school basketball tournaments in the country, was canceled last year due to the pandemic.

Several of the 80-something teams initially scheduled to play in the event this week have withdrawn due to COVID-19 cases within the team. At least one team here this week had six positive tests among its players before withdrawing.

Rancho Mirage's Adan Jacquez (13) shoots over Palo Verde's Emmanuel Nwisu (52) during the first period of their game at Rancho Mirage High School, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Rancho Mirage's Adan Jacquez (13) shoots over Palo Verde's Emmanuel Nwisu (52) during the first period of their game at Rancho Mirage High School, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, in Rancho Mirage, Calif.

“Having the tournament this year,” Hanmer said, “and the opportunity to be around other teams and coaches, means a lot to us after not having it last year.”

The tournament is providing an opportunity for teams, like the Rattlers, who have not played together much in the months prior to the start of the season to get comfortable with each other entering the second half of the season.

Each team is expected to play four games in the Desert Holiday Classic this week, which is being played at Rancho Mirage, Cathedral City, Xavier Prep and Indio high schools.

“We’re just trying to get better each game,” Hanmer said. “That’s the goal this week.”

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Rattlers, Indians win big on second day of Desert Holiday Classic