Antelope Valley hoops coach fundraising to get teams to tournaments - ESPN

The coach of a private California school that recently announced the closure of its campus and canceled all sports is raising money to send the men's and women's basketball teams to their postseason tournaments.

Jordan Mast, the coach of the University of Antelope Valley's men's team, told ESPN on Saturday that the school's men's and women's basketball teams have qualified to play in their conference tournaments but have been told by school officials their seasons will be canceled without outside help.

They have until Sunday to leave their dorms, the team facilities and the campus. The school has not offered alternate housing for the affected athletes.

Mast said he was aware of the NAIA school's financial troubles, but school officials notified him only last week about the dire circumstances. He said he asked the leaders of the private, for-profit institution for the opportunity to start a GoFundMe to give his teams a chance to play in the postseason and they agreed.

«All we know is we're supposed to be out by Sunday,» Mast told ESPN. «On a call, they said, 'We also don't have funds to continue your season.' At that point, I just said, 'This isn't right. Can I fundraise? Can I do something?' And they said, 'Hey, if you want to try, go ahead.'»

Mast said he has spent the week trying to contact people who can help him raise $40,000, which he said will be sufficient for both teams to travel throughout the postseason.

With an 84-75 win over La Sierra University on Tuesday, the UAV men's basketball team sealed the Cal Pac Conference championship and automatic bid to the NAIA national tournament but will still participate in its conference tournament. Saturday's home game against Embry-Riddle (Arizona) is the team's senior