Notebook: Final Four fundraiser Saturday for cancer-stricken coach

Local basketball coaches have come together in support of Calaveras coach Kraig Clifton, who was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in December.

And the plan they’ve drawn up will center around the biggest weekend in college basketball.

A Final Four viewing party will be held on Saturday at the Escalon Grange Hall, 1840 Main St. The cost is $100 and will include all-you-can-eat food and drinks.

Along with the basketball games, there will be a blackjack table and sit-and-go poker tournaments.

The doors open at noon.

The fundraiser will be hosted by Escalon boys basketball coach Martin Louro and his staff. Louro has been coaching against Clifton for about a decade. Calaveras has been a regular at Louro’s summer league.

“When I heard that news, it kicked me in the gut,” Louro said. “It makes you realize that some things are more important than how your team is doing.”

For more information on the viewing party or to make a donation to the Clifton family, contact Louro at 209-505-4537.

Parade in works for Buffaloes: The buzz created by the Manteca boys basketball team’s CIF State Division III championship continues to swirl.

The Buffaloes (29-6) became the first basketball program in Manteca Unified School District history to win a CIF State title.

On the wings of high-flying Kenny Wooten, who nearly posted a triple-double, Manteca pulled away from Ayala of Chino Hills in the D-III final, 60-51. Wooten finished with 26 points, 18 rebounds and nine blocked shots.

One week later, Lewis is still fielding phone calls and messages about the triumphant performance.

Mostly, the chatter is about how the school will celebrate its state champions, whose remarkable journey included runner-up finishes in the Valley Oak League and Sac-Joaquin Section Division III tournaments.

Lewis said school officials have planned an afternoon rally and parade, tentatively scheduled for April 8. While details of the celebration are still in the works, Lewis did say there will be a net-cutting ceremony.

Dunlavy Field getting a facelift: Crews have begun ripping up the artificial turf at Sonora High’s Dunlavy Field in preparation for a facelift.

Once crowned one of the best high school football stadiums in the country by USA Today, Dunlavy Field’s million-dollar surface looked out of sorts and run down this past fall.

About half of the two-toned FieldTurf, which was gifted by NBC’s “Three Wishes” reality program and rolled out ahead of the 2005 football season, had been worn down to the rubber by use and exposure to the elements.

In September, Sonora football coach Bryan Craig said the blades on the lighter shade of turf were not UV resistant.

Eventually, the elements completely consumed Dunlavy Field.

Rain turned the dirt track into a moat for the Wildcats’ CIF Northern California Division IV-AA regional championship against Hanford on Dec. 11.

Planks were laid across the track to allow players and coaches, administrators and sideline guests to move – albeit cautiously – from the field to the stands.

However, the sound of tractors and trucks this week signal a new beginning for the fabled stadium. Crews began to rip out the old turf and install a cooling system on Monday, clearing the way for a complete modernization of Dunlavy Field.

In addition to new artificial turf, Sonora High athletic director Karen Sells said Dunlavy Field will receive an all-weather track.

This story was originally published March 31, 2016 at 12:47 PM with the headline "Notebook: Final Four fundraiser Saturday for cancer-stricken coach."