After hosting Central Catholic in the Foundation Game on Monday, Nov. 30, the Escalon varsity girls will join their JV counterparts to host the Pete Arellano Memorial Tournament this week.

Formerly the Lions Club Girls Basketball Tournament, the tourney has been renamed in honor of the late coach and teacher, who also was a longtime member of the Escalon Lions Club.

Games are scheduled to begin today, Wednesday, Dec. 2 and will run on Thursday, Dec. 3 and close out on Friday, Dec. 4. In the varsity competition, teams taking part and playing in the new gym will be host Escalon, Big Valley, Johansen, Waterford, Millennium, Ripon Christian, Central Catholic and Amador.

JV teams include Escalon, Riverbank, Johansen, Waterford, Excel Academy, Ripon Christian, Central Catholic and Amador.

Varsity action for Escalon starts at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, taking on Big Valley Grace Christian in the opener. The first game at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday features Ripon Christian and Central Catholic; Millennium and Waterford tip off at 5 p.m.; Amador and Johansen play at 6:30 p.m., followed by the Escalon-Big Valley contest.

At the JV level, with games in the old gym at EHS, Wednesday’s opener features Riverbank and Excel Academy at 3:30 p.m.; Central Catholic and Ripon Christian at 5 p.m.; Amador and Waterford at 6:30 p.m.; Escalon and Johansen at 8 p.m.

This past Saturday, the varsity girls traveled to Ripon for scrimmage action, taking on East Union, Ripon and Ripon Christian.

“East Union is probably the best team we’ll see,” said head coach Joseph Dalpogetti. “It was just a good experience to get out there and play.”

The prior Saturday, Escalon hosted a day full of scrimmages, with teams including Beyer, Waterford, Cosumnes Oaks, Argonaut and Bret Harte coming in.

The JV team, under first year head coach Kacey Ball, also got on the court for scrimmage action and will jump into battle this week with the Escalon tournament.

Escalon does not have a freshman girls team this season.