Irvine Valley's men's basketball team, which has had success in recent years in Monterey, begins the Monterey Bay Classic on Thursday with a game against Northern California's Foothill at 7 p.m.
The Lasers won the championship last year in the event, beating host Monterey Peninsula in the final, 51-40.
And in 2019-20, the Lasers reached the final, but fell to West Valley, 70-67.
IVC has a record of 2-4 overall this season. The Lasers won their first two games of the season, but have dropped four in a row.
IVC is coming off of a 68-64 defeat to Southwestern at home on Nov. 22. Freshman guard Luke Farrington had his best game of the year with 18 points, six rebounds and two blocks.
Irvine Valley starts on Thursday against a Foothill team that has a record of 4-2 overall. Foothill has won two games in a row and captured its home opener Tuesday, 95-78, over Butte. Malcolm McCray led the way for the Owls with 26 points. off the bench.
Other games in the opening round include DeAnza against Diablo Valley at 1 p.m., Hartnell against Cypress at 3 p.m. and Santa Barbara City playing host Monterey Peninsula at 5 p.m.
Irvine Valley will play at either 3 p.m. or 5 p.m. on Friday against Santa Barbara City or Monterey Peninsula.
The tournament wraps up on Saturday with games at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and the championship at 5 p.m.
