The 2005 rendition should be more of the same when action in the 39th annual Westmont Invitational boys basketball tournament tips off on Nov. 29 and runs through Dec. 2 with all games scheduled at Westmont High School.

One thing that could make the tourney particularly exciting this year is that there is no clear-cut favorite going in with no team having one dominant player as in years past. In addition, six of the eight teams participated in the Central Coast Section playoffs last year. Westmont head coach and tournament director Bill Gerth explains, "It's more of a balanced group of teams this year than in the recent past with each team having a couple of good players. The championship is definitely up for grabs."

Gerth sees the tourney as an opportunity for a proving ground for a number of teams with young players who could step up and prove themselves, gaining valuable experience and confidence early in the season.

The eight teams participating in this year's tourney are all returnees from 2004. Round one action in the upper bracket on Nov. 29 will see Los Gatos take on Willow Glen at 5:30 p.m. followed by Westmont facing Saratoga in a 7 p.m. contest. Lower bracket round one games are scheduled for Nov. 30. Fremont will square off against Leland at 5:30 p.m. with Piedmont Hills paired up with Prospect at 7 p.m.

Fremont walked away with the 2004 title in a shootout over Piedmont Hills, who had won back-to-back titles in 2002 and 2003. Fremont lost a large number of senior experience and talent to graduation and the Pirates are without the talents of standout players such as Aaron Buckner. That could leave the door open for a darkhorse such as Leland, who returns to the tourney with a number of players who were young last year but by now have solid experience under their belts.

Los Gatos always seems to be a force year after year as well as Saratoga, who runs a pressing swarming defense that gives opponents fits. Westmont will be at full strength, picking up players from the football team that saw an early exit from the Central Coast Section playoffs.

"Familiarity makes for intensity in the games," Gerth added. "You know what to expect from your opponent but you still have to go out and execute to win." Sometimes contests among family members prove to be the most competitive.

Familiarity is definitely a characteristic of the tourney. Leland, Prospect and Willow Glen all compete against each other in the Santa Teresa Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League. Westmont and Piedmont Hills play in the Blossom Valley Athletic League Mt. Hamilton Division. Los Gatos and Fremont knock heads in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League while Saratoga is in the El Camino Division of the SCVAL.

Gerth has an extensive history with the tournament. He first was part of it when he played for Westmont in the early 1970s. He has been the varsity coach for the past nine years and prior to that he spent five years as the frosh-soph coach and two years as a varsity assistant coach at Westmont.

It was 1995 when the Warriors last kept the championship trophy at home, although they came close in 2002 with a second-place finish behind Piedmont Hills. Gerth and his Warriors are hoping that 2005 is the time for another title with the playing field level for the first time in a few years.