INLAND FIELDHOUSE

The championship game of the 22nd annual Tom Tilson Holiday Classic sets up as an unexpected matchup of two programs with little relative recent success.

THE LOW DOWN:
The Colton Yellowjackets (7-2-0 overall) have reached their first-ever Tilson finale following victories over No. 5 Riverside King, Fontana Jurupa Hills, Corona and San Bernardino Cajon. The reigning San Andreas League champions, the ‘Jackets reached the second round of the CIF-Southern Section Division 5 playoffs last season.

The Riverside Norte Vista Braves (9-2-1 overall) faced a far easier road to the Tilson finale, arriving in the title game following wins over Elsinore, Vista Murrieta, Yucaipa and Jurupa Valley. Last season’s second-place team out of the Sunkist League, the Braves lost in the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Division 3 playoffs.

STARTING XIs:
Colton — GK: Angel Huape; D: Tyler Rich; Luis Lorenzo; Jonathan Alvarado; MF: Erwin Marin; Elvis Garcia; Edwin Figueroa; Luis Lopez; F: Jerry Olguin; Ernie Perez; Ismael Carlin.

Riverside Norte Vista — Roster unavailable.

THE DIFFERENCE:
The Yellowjackets’ forwards do well to control the pace and force the tempo. If Colton’s backline can hold back prolific offenses such as King and Corona, they should have little trouble with Norte Vista, a side that was shut out by No. 8 Riverside Poly in a non-league game two days prior to the tournament.
PREDICTION: Colton 2, Norte Vista 1