Boys’ basketball: 48-team tournament set to begin Jan. 5

Whether Joe Reed of Huntington Park knows it or not, his 48-team tournament that begins on Jan. 5 is the perfect date for a basketball tournament.

That’s because Jan. 5 is freedom day for the players who had to sit out the first month of the season after transferring without moving.

Lots of teams will be finally at full strength, and getting to play four games before league play is the perfect tournament.

Games will be played at South Gate, Roybal, Panorama, RFK and Huntington Park.

There are five divisions within the tournament, with championship games on Jan. 11.

Roybal will be the site on Jan. 5 for the best opening games.

They include Carson vs. Birmingham at 1 p.m.; Cathedral vs. Milken at 4 p.m.; Fairfax vs. Quartz Hill at 5:30 p.m.; Maranatha vs. Diamond Ranch at 7 p.m. and Sylmar vs. Garfield at 8:30 p.m.

On Jan. 6, Narbonne is playing Fairfax at 5:30 p.m. On Jan. 7, it’s Cathedral vs. Maranatha at 7 p.m. and Sylmar vs. Birmingham at 8:30 p.m. All are at Roybal.

Twitter:@LATSondheimer