The upstart Porterville College men's basketball team returns to action this weekend to host the two-day, four-team Milt Stowe Classic. Action begins on Friday, Nov. 19 and concludes on Saturday, Nov. 20.

Admission to the event at the PC Gym is free. Spectators must wear a mask and are required to be vaccinated or have a negative COVID test from within the past 72 hours.

Joining the host Pirates at this year's tournament are Bakersfield College, Moorpark College, and West Hills College Coalinga. Porterville is 3-1 to open the season under new head coach Amaurys Fermin.

PC is set to live stream all four games on its YouTube channel:

Friday, Nov. 19
Moorpark vs. West Hills Coalinga | 5:00 p.m. | https://youtu.be/3Gsn3hHybXI
Bakersfield vs. Porterville | 7:00 p.m. | https://youtu.be/MQZesg0Jk4Y

Saturday, Nov. 20
West Hills Coalinga vs. Bakersfield | 1:00 p.m. | https://youtu.be/X8s1sIz-asg
Moorpark vs. Porterville | 3:00 p.m. | https://youtu.be/4IzPn98jr1I

The tournament honors former City of Porterville mayor and Porterville College player and coach Milt Stowe.

Stowe attended PC from 1970 to 1972. He played basketball and baseball as a Pirate, earning honors in both sports. He also served as a student government representative while at PC. After graduating from PC, Stowe transferred to California State University, Sacramento, where he lettered twice in baseball. He returned to PC in 1975 to become the Pirates' baseball coach, a position he held for seven years. He was also PC's first women's basketball coach, coached volleyball, and was an assistant coach for the men's basketball team.

In 1995, Stowe was inducted into the PC Athletic Hall of Fame for his achievements on the baseball diamond. Stowe went on to work for the City of Porterville's Parks and Leisure division for two-plus decades, holding such positions as superintendent, chief of operations and director of parks and leisure/deputy city manager. He retired from the city in 2012 and from refereeing NCAA Division I basketball games, which he did for 30 years, in 2013.

Stowe returned to city government in 2014 to serve a four-year term as mayor. He is currently a member of the Porterville City Council.