The White River High girls’ basketball team has made a habit of jetting off to sunny San Diego soon after the close of each school year. They also have made a habit of finding success at the San Diego Classic.

This year proved no different as coach Chris Gibson’s varsity squad won three of four games and captured third-place honors in the 2A division. Showing up even better was the Hornet junior varsity team that rolled through the competition, going 3-0 and winning their division championship.

The San Diego Classic took place June 23-25, occupying courts at both Cuyamaca College and Grossmont College.

Gibson and Co. are a well-known commodity at the Classic, and not simply because White River has now appeared in 24 editions of the tournament (No. 2 on the list of longest-tenured programs). It’s also because the Hornets have performed well against top-notch competition, winning the Classic’s 2A championship a year ago and also in 2017.

The Hornet varsity club opened Classic play June 23 with a lopsided victory over Elsinore High. White River had little trouble dispatching the girls from Wildomar, California, winning 81-10.

Moving on to Saturday (June 24) play, the Hornets found the competition to be much tougher. First came a 49-45 victory over Woodbridge High, followed by a 41-39 triumph over Glendora High.

Finishing the tourney on June 25, White River fell 41-39 to a Roosevelt High (Colorado) team that went on to win the 2A tourney championship.

Making up Gibson’s varsity squad were Lexie Banks, Ava Bright, Josie Jacobs, Vivian Kingston, Dakota Sprouse, Jadyn Olson, Maggee Schmitz, Sophie Ross-Soler, Ella Klemkow, Ally Green, Alle Klemkow and Emma Voellger.

White River’s JV squad opened Classic play on June 23 with a 40-23 victory over Steele Canyon. The following day brought a 33-18 win over Mayfield and June 25 saw the team earn its 1A title with a 47-25 victory over South Torrance.

Making up the White River junior varsity squad were Emma Tomlinson, Jaidyn March, Sophia Bush, Malia Froemke, Hailey Andrew, Gracie Banks, Kalese Turgeon, Myia Olson, Addy Stone, Taylor Wilson, Ella Stone, Brea Snover and Riley Soule.

Aside from Gibson, the Hornet staff making the trip included Megan Turner (head JV coach) and assistants Brian Howisey, Megan Cash and Georgia Lavinder.

Aside from the three days of competition, White River’s trip opened with June 22 exhibition contest against El Capitan High and closed with a day at Disneyland.

The San Diego Classic was launched in 1987 by Wade Vickery who coached boys’ teams for five years before embarking on a lengthy career leading girls’ basketball programs. He eventually won more than 600 games on the girls’ side and, in 2015, was inducted into the California Coaches Association Hall of Fame.