La Verne Lutheran on Saturday morning was the center of the youth basketball world. In the morning games, the court was cut in half so four teams of Mighty Miters could play at once, taking aim at shortened baskets. It’s an anything-goes brand of basketball where players can run with the ball and coaches can lift their players over the rim of the basketball hoop to dunk the ball. The only place you see more traveling (taking too many steps) is in the NBA.

In the afternoon, the big kids (C and B Divisions) took over. Officials keep the score, and the refs start enforcing the rules more closely. It’s always a great way to spend a day for players and fans and for reporters looking at the young prospects who not that long from now will be playing for Lutheran, Damien and Bonita High Schools.

Some pics of the young champions below (with apologies to the Rod Tipton-led Mighty Mite Suns, whose photo somehow was not inside my camera when I went to downloand — Super Bowl jinks):

Mighty Mites Clippers

Mighty Mites Celtics

Mighty Mites Nets

Mighty Mites Bulls: Tyler Crowell, Logan Corthell, Dylan Matheson, Kerianne Mercier, Saskia Wong-DeWildt, Emeric King, Shane Fonseca, Jake Patterson, Matthew Bustos, Julian Diaz. Coaches are Dina Corthell and Christa Crowell.

Mighty Mites Rockets

Division C Thunder: Coach Paul Esteves, Asst. Coach Jim Wolfe, Nicky Amarasinghe, Andrew Esteves, Jordan Friend, Jaden Koenig, Juan “JJ” Lopez, Alex Mouawad, Roy Mouawad, Dylon Pon, Sam Wolfe, and Nathan Wong. The Thunder defeated the Suns, 28-25.

The Chicago Bulls - C Division: The Bulls downed the Warriors, 34-23.

B Division Nuggets: The Mile-High Nuggets cooled the Heat, 30-19. Players include Daniel D'angelo, Devon Romero, Ryan French, Jerrod Finn, Robert Valenzuela, Ryan Mara, Brandon Mclauren and Dominic Lopez. With the win, the Nuggets are a perfect 4-0, heading into the season's home stretch. Ryan French, Sr. serves as head coach.

The Knicks - B Division: The Knickerbockers iced the Suns, 44-36.

Sponsored by Colleen Bennett – a great La Verne Realtor. To reach her any time at Keller Williams, call (909) 374-4744.