Play gets underway today, Wednesday, Nov. 30 in the annual Pete Arellano Memorial Tournament, with the Escalon JV and varsity basketball teams hosting a number of teams in the three-day tourney. The event, sponsored in cooperation with the Escalon Lions Club, was named in honor of the late Pete Arellano after the longtime Lions Club member, retired coach and teacher passed away.

Action will feature eight teams battling for top honors at both the JV and varsity levels. For the varsity girls, the bracket starts with the first game tipping off at 3:30 p.m. today, Ripon Christian vs. Johansen. The 5 p.m. game pits Central Catholic vs. Millennium, Waterford takes on Amador at 6:30 p.m. and host school Escalon takes on Big Valley Grace Christian in the first day finale with tip off at 8 p.m. Varsity games will all be played in the new gym.

JV contests are in the old gym on the EHS campus, starting with Ripon Christian vs. Beyer at 3:30 p.m. today, Riverbank vs. Central Catholic, 5 p.m.; Johansen vs. Amador at 6:30 p.m. and Waterford vs. Escalon at 8 p.m.

For both levels, day two of the tournament, Thursday, Dec. 1 features games in the consolation bracket (losers of first day games) at 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m., games in the winner’s bracket at 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.

On Friday, Dec. 2, the seventh place game for both JV and varsity teams will be at 3:30 p.m., followed by the consolation bracket championship game at 5 p.m.; the third place game at 6:30 p.m. and the championship game at 8 p.m.

Also with a sports theme this week, the Escalon High School Sports Boosters will host their annual holiday sale on Saturday, Dec. 3 in the parking lot adjacent to the tennis courts at Escalon High. Open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the sale will feature a wide variety of Cougar-themed merchandise ranging from long-sleeved T-shirts to vintage style sweatshirts, hats, scarves and more.