1ST STRING MAGAZINE

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Conference play awaits bay area hoop teams

Photo by Eric Taylor

Who knew that St. Mary's at USF (men's) would be one of the bigger games in the bay area and WCC conference this season. USF is playing like they are one of the best 64 teams in the country this year.

A win over an improving St. Mary's team would go a long ways to the Dons making the NCAA Tourney. Both teams are chasing big, bad Gonzaga who is almost a lock to go dancing.

The rest of the WCC, USF and St. Mary's included, will have to just about run the conference schedule and or win the WCC Tourney. The Dons are 12-2, but they have not beaten any powerhouses.

Their game against a ranked Arizona St was cancelled due to the deadly California wildfires, but they have wins over both Cal and Stanford.

You don't have to tell St. Mary's how big this one is. Every game counts like two from here on out. Having no more then two WCC losses would be in the best wintriest of the Gaels.

Looking at a conference that is perhaps it's best top to bottom in a while that will be a tall task for St. Mary's.

High school sports impacted by the California wild fires

Photo by Eric Taylor

All across northern and southern California high school sports have been put on hold because of the devastating wildfires burning out of control in large parts of the state.

There are over 1,000 people missing and that number is sure to go up as the fires continue to burn.

The smoke from the "Camp Fire" in Butte county has descended over most of the San Francisco Bay Area causing very un healthy air.

It's so bad that most prep sporting events have been cancelled the past two weeks. Cross Country got it's section meets axed and runners moved onto state based on times they ran during the season.

Next weeks state meet in Fresno is a go at the moment. Hopefully the kids can run and it comes at a time when they can postpone it for a week if they have to.

The football state championships have been moved back. Schools are trying to move playoff games to areas the smoke has not caused havoc.