COD (1-1) kicked off the 2023-24 season with the annual Frank Garcia Classic, knocking off a Bakersfield Renegade (0-2) squad and then falling in a close game with a very tough Los Angeles Southwest Cougars (2-0) team.

The annual Frank Garcia Classic is traditionally a home tournament, but due to a leak in the roof of the gym, made significantly worse by Hurricane Hilary on August 20 and then additional damage to the gym floor by a heavy rain storm on September 1, the tournament was moved this season. The venue was at Copper Mountain College in Joshua Tree.

In game one, the Renegades took a 39-33 lead at the break and then Desert exploded in the second half, winning the half and the game 73-71.

Sophomore starting forward Jermayn Baxter (Indianapolis (IN) Decatur Central) and freshman starting forward Wilfred Weir (Murrieta Valley) led the way for the Roadrunners both had 20 points on the evening. Baxter would go 8-14 from the field, leading the team in steals and tying for the lead in total rebounds with 5. Wier would also go 8 of 14 from the field and a perfect 3 for 3 from the free throw line, tying for the team lead in assists with 5 and the team lead in blocks with 2. Freshman starting guard Jamerson McClendon (Indio H.S.) scored 10 points on 5 of 10 shooting form the field, had 5 boards, 5 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks. Freshman guard Daniel Davis (Phoenix (AZ) Skyline Prep) added 12 points on 4 of 9 shooting off of the bench and contributed 4 assists in the win.

In game two, LA Southwest took a 53-47 lead at the break and while Desert did close the gap to within six-points with less than 5 minutes left in the game, the Roadrunners could not get any closer and fell to the Cougars, 98-88.

Davis led the way for Desert, scoring 22 off of the bench on 9 of 10 shooting and going a perfect 4 for 4 from the charity stripe and Baxter, as a starter, added 15 points on 5 of 14 shooting, also going a perfect 4 for 4 from the free throw line. Baxter would lead the team in total rebounds (8) and assists (8) and tie for the team lead with 2 steals and 2 blocked shots. McClendon would add 9 points on 3 of 8 shooting, grabbing 7 boards, 5 assists and 2 steals. Sophomore guard Luke Mathis (Redlands East Valley) leapt off of the bench to add 9 points on 2 of 10 shooting, going a perfect 3 for 3 from the free throw line.

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Information, Story & Photos provided by COD Sports Information.