SBCC Classic cancelled due to fire concerns

Sophomore guard Drayten Howell is the Vaqueros' second-leading scorer (12.0 ppg) and No. 1 in assists (6.3). (Photo by Ken Sciallo / Sevilla Photography)
Sophomore guard Drayten Howell is the Vaqueros' second-leading scorer (12.0 ppg) and No. 1 in assists (6.3). (Photo by Ken Sciallo / Sevilla Photography)

The 45th annual SBCC Classic men's basketball tournament has been cancelled due to the Thomas fire. Eight teams were scheduled to play Thursday through Saturday (Dec. 7-9).

The fire started a few days ago in Santa Paula, then swept through Ventura County, burning 96,000 acres. Carpinteria and Ojai were being threatened on Thursday.

The air quality is "very unhealthy" in the Santa Barbara area due to smoke and ash. All of SBCC's campuses have been closed through Saturday.

The Vaqueros were set to host Columbia on Thursday at 6 p.m. but that has been cancelled. Other teams in the three-day tournament were Oxnard, Bakersfield, San Diego Miramar, L.A. Valley, Grossmont and College of the Desert.

The Vaqueros will play in the L.A. Southwest Intensity Classic next week, opening vs. L.A. Southwest on Thursday at 7 p.m.