Hancock Opens 20th Annual Lady Bulldog Classic Thursday, Dec. 7, Hosts Toy Drive for Toys for Tots

Bulldogs fans have a chance to see their hometown team defend its home court and help local families in need at the same time. The Allan Hancock College women's basketball team is getting into the holiday spirit by teaming up with the Toys for Tots Foundation of Santa Barbara County during its 20th annual Lady Bulldog Classic. The three-day tournament opens at the Joe White Memorial Gymnasium on Thursday, Dec. 7, at 1 p.m., and ends on Saturday, Dec. 9 with the championship game at 3 p.m.

Fans who bring an unwrapped toy worth $10 or more receive free admission to the Lady Bulldog Classic. Toys for Tots is collecting toys for children up to 17 years old. Volunteers say there is increased need for assistance this year. They plan to distribute toys to about 500 families in the Santa Maria area and 3,500 families throughout Santa Barbara County this holiday. They expect to distribute more than 20,000 toys to children in need.

The Bulldogs will host Cuesta, Orange Coast, L.A. Harbor, College of the Siskiyous, College of the Sequoias, Santa Barbara City College, and an all-star team from Vandenberg Air Force Base. Three are the teams were ranked in the preseason polls: Siskiyous (No. 7 in North Region Preseason Poll); Sequoias (No. 4 in North); and Orange Coast (No. 16 in South).

Cuesta (4-2) and Siskiyous (7-1) will open the tournament at 1 p.m. on Thursday, followed by Hancock (4-3) and Vandenberg AFB at 3 p.m., Orange Coast (0-5) against L.A. Harbor (4-7) at 5 p.m., and Santa Barbara (3-3) will close out the first day against College of the Sequoias (11-0) at 7 p.m.

On Friday, December 8, the four losing teams from Thursday will face off at 1 and 3 p.m. The winners of the first-round games will meet at 5 and 7 p.m. The fifth-place game will start at 11 a.m. on Saturday, followed by the third-place game at 1 p.m. and the championship match at 3 p.m.

Tickets are $7 each for adults or $4 for senior citizens and children. For more information, call (805) 922-6966 ext.3227.