(Here is Jeff Meadow's Day 2 Recap of WCFS (Thought if fitting to share, since I wasn't available to do an objective recap myself. I say in for coach Gene Littles and Ray Arvizu to coach the Az Stars 15u team.)
West Coast Fall Showcase Day 2 Recap of the "SUPER POOLS", Semi Finals & Championship Game.
By: Jeff Meadows
Day 2: CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY
The 1st Semi Finals game of the “SUPER POOLS” AZ STARS 15U vs AZ FUTURE 16U.
As the “SUPER POOLS” pool play ended, the four teams that advanced to the semi finals were very eager to get the semi finals under way. In pool A you have the AZ STARS 15U. The AZ STARS 15U is a storied program that happens to be one of about 36-38 programs throughout the United States that has a Nike contract. This AZ STARS 15U team finished their spring/summer being ranked at the # 15 spot nationally. This AZ STARS 15U team is “STACKED” from 1-12 they can easily go that deep & not miss much of a beat. The AZ STARS 15U are led by Rolando Rhymes, Dorian Pickens, Roberto Reyes, Sam Jones, Zylan Cheetman, Deron Kyle, Gino Littles, Ahmed Levon, Pablo Rivas, etc. The AZ STARS 15U defeated the Tucson Heat #5 & Oregon St. (team of free agents) on their road to the semi finals & they would face the #1 team in pool B, the AZ FUTURE 16U. The AZ FUTURE 16U is a talented, well rounded team that has all of the makings to be a team that must be accounted in any tournament they play in. The winners of pool B the AZ FUTURE 16U, who on their way to the semi finals defeated the Tucson Heat #4 & TEAM P.R.E.P. to win their pool. The AZ FUTURE 16U is led by 5’10 court savvy (PG) Eddie Little, 6’4 (F) Cody March, 6’1 (CG) Will Donovan and 5’9 (PG) Trey Ingram etc.
Let’s take a look at both the “AZ STARS 15U” & the “AZ FUTURE 16U” roster.
AZ STARS 15U Coach: Don Pickens & James Parker
Deron Kyle 5’8 (PG) Deer Valley 2014
Gino Littles 5’8 (PG) Chaparral 2014
Rolando Rhymes 5’10 (PG) St Mary’s 2014
Christian Harris 5’10 (G) Mesa 2014
Roberto Reyes 6’3 (W) Gilbert Christian 2014
Ahmad Levon 6’4 (F) North 2013
Dorian Pickens 6’5 (W) Pinnacle 2014
Geoffrey Vredevoogd 6’5 F/C Perry 2014
Sam Jones 6'6 (W) Gilbert Christian 2014
Pablo Rivas 6’6 (F) Chavez 2014
Zylan Cheetman 6’6 (W) St. Mary’s 2014
Mark Andrews 6’6 (F) MT. Ridge 2014
AZ FUTURE 16U Coach: Ron Bender
Justin Dombrowski 5’8 (PG) Brophy 2013
Trey Ingram 5’9 (PG) Pinnacle 2014
Trey Hoebee 5’9 (PG) Apache Elem 2015
Eddie Little 5’10 (PG) Queek Creek 2013
Uno Ekpoh 5’10 (PG) Sunrise 2014
Tyler Dilyard 5’10 (PG) Boulder Creek 2012
Jack Daley 5’11 (PG) Cactus Shadows 2013
Will Donovan 6’0 (G) Pinnacle 2014
Matt Lauer 6’1 (CG) Horizon 2013
Cody March 6’4 (F) Sandra Day O'Connor 2013
Bryce Frintner 6’4 (F) Pinnacle 2013
On paper, the AZ STARS 15U looked like the odds on favorite but having said that, no one thought that the AZ FUTURE 16U would have finished 1st in their pool either but that’s why we play the game. Now the moment that we’ve all been waiting for, the semi finals of the “SUPER POOLS” the AZ STARS 15U vs the AZ FUTURE 16U, let the games begin.
The game: AZ STARS 15U vs AZ FUTURE 16
The gym was packed, the players, excited as everyone began to stuff into the main gym to watch a very good match up for the 1st Semi Final game of the “SUPER POOLS” Championship. Once the game got started, the AZ STARS 15U came out fast & hard as they took an early commanding 16-4 lead. Rolando Rhymes the 5’10 (PG) of St. Mary’s 2014 spearheaded the charge with his constant penetration & getting to the basket. Dorian Pickens the 6’5 (W) also was very effective in the early going. Eddie Little the 5’10 (PG) was a very bright spot for the AZ FUTURE 16U as he did some penetrating & kicking out to the (W) for the open shot & playing solid defense. The AZ FUTURE 16U fought back to close the gap to 28-24 at the half.
In the 2nd half, the AZ FUTURE 16U looked as if they were going to make a big run to take the lead behind the solid play of Cody March 6’4 (F), cut the lead to 43-39 but that was as close as they would get as the AZ STARS 15U would close out the victory 59-46. The ENTIRE AZ STARS 15U team looked great in the victory. The AZ STARS 15U were led by Rolando Rhymes 19pts 3assist & 5 steals, Dorian Pickens added 16pts 8rebs & 3assist, Roberto Reyes added 13pts & 10rebs. & for the AZ FUTURE 16U 5’10 (PG) Eddie Little who scored a team high 13pts & 6assist, Cody March 6’4 (F) added 12 pts & 8 rebs & 5’10 (CG) Will Donovan chipped in 11 pts 4 rebs. With the win the AZ STARS 15U moved on to the Championship game of the West Coast Fall Showcase “SUPER POOLS”. “We stayed consistent all game” said AZ STARS 15U coach Don Pickens “We played well on both ends of the court”. “We missed a couple of easy baskets down the stretch which ended up costing us in the end” said AZ FUTURE 16U coach Ron Bender. The AZ STARS 15U advanced to the finals to play the winner of the next game Tucson Heat #3 vs True Ballerz.
Semi final game 2, Tucson Heat #3 vs True Ballarz
The 2nd semi final game between the True Ballerz & the Tucson Heat #3 is a very interesting match up that was hard to gage for the simple fact that the True Ballerz winners of pool D, is a team that is full of athletes & skilled players while the Tucson Heat #3 is a team made up of very hard working players that have bought into coach Brian Peabody’s style of hard nose defense & precise execution on offense. Tucson Heat #3 winners of pool C, is a team made up of players that have fairly good skills but as unit, they are very tough to beat. The Tucson Heat #3 defeated the K-9 UNIT & lost to SWS Academy (but won their pool by point differential) “True Ballarz is a very talented team" said Tucson Heat #3 coach Brian Peabody “We’re definitley going to have to execute at a high level in this game”. True Ballerz led by the high scoring 6’2 (CG) Khari Holloway, who can score in bunches, is major piece #1, major piece #2 is newly acquired 6’6 athletic jumping jack (F) Chris Davis who’s a serious FORCE TO BE WRECKIN WITH INSIDE. The Tucson Heat #3 is led by their “Triple Towers” Travis Jefferies 6’4 (G) (2012), Alec Sonderman 6’4 (F) (2012), Brendon Sharky 6’4 (F) (2012).
Let’s take a look at both the Tucson Heat #3 & the True Ballarz roster.
Tucson Heat 3 – Coach: Brian Peabody
Mike Duffy 5’10 (PG) IWR 2012
Jordan Gorman 5’10 (PG) IWR 2012
Daniel Lugo 5’10 (G) IWR 2012
Andrew Dohm 5’10 (G) IWR 2012
Travis Jefferies 6’4 (G) IWR 2012
Alec Sonderman 6’4 (F) IWR 2012
Brendon Sharky 6’4 (F) IWR 2012
True Ballerz-Coach: Chris Holloway
Jordan Williams 5’9 (PG) Desert Mt 2013
Adam Zubakoff 5’9 (PG) Horizon 2013
Austin Witherill 5’11 (PG) Mt Point 2014
Dominique Branscumb 6’1 (CG) Corona Del Sol 2011
Khari Holloway 6’2 (CG) Mt. Point 2013
Austin West 6’3 (W) Horizon 2013
Marcus Ramirez 6'4 (W) Mt. Pointe 2013
Adonis Railing 6’4 (F) Mt Point 2013
Chris Davis 6’6 (F) Trevor Browne 2014
The game: Tucson Heat #3 vs True Ballerz
The game started off at a fast pace with coach Peabody making his team do the usual on defense which press & apply pressure from all angles. While coach Peabody’s group applied the pressure on defense coach Holloway’s group applied the pressure on offense with their scoring (CG) Khari Holloway hitting mid range & long range jumpers & 6'6 (F) Chris Davis putting in work on the offensive glass getting quite a few put backs which helped the True Ballerz to into the half with a 35-27 half time lead.
In the 2nd half coach Peabody’s group came out just the way you would have expected them to, hard & affective on defense. Coach Peabody’s 3 HEADED (W/F’s) Travis Jefferies 6’4 (W), Alec Sonderman 6’4 (F), Brendon Sharky 6’4 (F) all began to loosen up a little on the offensive end going on an 8-0 run, scoring often early in the 2nd half as Tucson Heat #3 began to cut away at the lead to 4 but would be as close as coach Peabody’s team would get as the True Ballarz ran away with the lead & the game winning by the score of 59-48. “We’re peaking at the right time” said coach of the True Ballarz Chris Holloway “I feel really good about our chances of winning this tournament”. “We just didn’t play well today” said Tucson Heat coach Brian Peabody “We played solid defense but we just couldn’t get very many of our shots to fall”.
The “SUPER POOLS” Championship Pregame: AZ STARS 15U vs True Ballerz
This game was one that I could see happening from the very beginning & it has a few story lines as well. First off, let’s start by saying that these two teams of players are no strangers to each other, as a matter of fact; these 2 teams have faced each other in various tournaments championship games. The AZ STARS 15U is one of the Nation’s top 15U squads & they extremely loaded, so much in fact that 7 of the top 10 freshman in the State of Arizona play on the AZ STARS 15U squad. The AZ STARS 15U is lead by their “3 Headed Monster”: 5’10 lightening quick (PG) Rolando Rhymes, 6’3 athletic, slashing (W) Roberto Reyes & last but definitely not least 6’5 multipurpose (W) Dorian Pickens. The True Ballerz has always been a team to never be taken lightly but with their new acquisition, they have become an upper eschualan team at the 15U level, & that new acquisition is the 6’6 athletic (F) Chris Davis. Davis for the past 2 seasons played for the AZ STARS 15U up until about a couple of months ago, which is when Chris decided that he wanted to go play for Coach Holloway & the True Ballerz. The AZ STARS 15U defeated Tucson Heat #5, Oregon St. (a team of free agent players) to win their pool & in the Semi Finals the AZ STARS15U defeated the AZ FUTURE 16U. The True Ballerz, on their road to the “SUPER POOLS” Championship by defeating BTB Thunder #2, Blue Devils (team of free agent players) & Tucson Heat #3 in the semi finals.
Let’s take a look at the rosters for both the AZ STARS 15U & the True Ballerz
AZ STARS 15U Coach: Don Pickens & James Parker
Deron Kyle 5’8 (PG) Deer Valley 2014
Gino Littles 5’8 (PG) Chaparral 2014
Rolando Rhymes 5’10 (PG) St Mary’s 2014
Roberto Reyes 6’3 (W) Gilbert Christian 2014
Ahmad Levon 6’4 (F) North 2013
Dorian Pickens 6’5 (W) Pinnacle 2014
Sam Jones 6'6 (W) Gilbert Christian 2014
Pablo Rivas 6’6 (F) Chavez 2014
Zylan Cheetman 6’6 (W) St. Mary’s 2014
Mark Andrews 6’6 (F) MT. ridge 2014
True Ballerz-Coach: Chris Holloway
Jordan Williams 5’9 (PG) Desert Mt 2013
Adam Zubakoff 5’9 (PG) Horizon 2013
Austin Witherill 5’11 (PG) Mt Point 2014
Dominique Branscumb 6’1 (CG) Corona Del Sol 2011
Khari Holloway 6’2 (CG) Mt. Point 2013
Austin West 6’3 (W) Horizon 2013
Adonis Railing 6’4 (F) Mt Point 2013
Marcus Ramirez 6'4 (W) Mt. Pointe 2013
Chris Davis 6’6 (F) Trevor Browne 2014
Well Folks are you ready? Ready or not, here we go the West Coast Fall Showcase “SUPER POOLS” Championship game: AZ STARS 15U vs True Ballerz.
The gym was packed (log on to www.ballislife.com to see the crowd size) & you could feel it throughout the gym that this was going to be a game every bit of exciting as advertised. “This is what we play for” said Chris Holloway coach of the True Ballerz “As a coach; you always love to play a prime time game on center stage”.
1st HALF
Once the ball was jumped, the game just took off from there. The AZ STARS 15U took command with a 24-19 lead toward the end of the 1st half, shortly after, the True Ballerz, behind solid play from 6’4 (W) Marcus Ramirez, sharp shooting of 6’3 (W) Austin West & scoring machine (CG) 6’2 Khari Holloway pulled his team to within one 29-28 but by the end of the half the AZ Stars 15U pushed their lead back up to seven, 37-30.
2nd half: Will the AZ STARS 15U be dethroned?
Once the 2nd half began, the intensity picked up & both teams took it up a couple notches. AZ STARS 15U sensational (PG) Rolando Rhymes began to display his stifling defense by causing a couple of turnovers which led to a couple of quick baskets along with a couple of 3’s from 6’5 multipurpose (W) Dorian Pickens & a few break away 2 hand slams by 6’3 athletic HIGH OCTANE (W) Roberto Reyes & the AZ STARS 15U were in total command with a 56-48 lead midway through the 2nd half. Not to be out done, the True Ballerz led by 2 quick 3’s from their 6’4 (W) Marcus Ramirez, some effective inside scoring from their BIG FELLA 6’6 (F) Chris Davis & a couple of 3 point plays from the scoring (CG) Khari Holloway & they were back in the game by cutting the lead to 62-57 but in the end the AZ STARS 15U proved to be too deep & too much for the True Ballerz as the AZ STARS 15U went on to win the 1st Annual West Coast Fall Showcase “SUPER POOLS” Championship. “This was great event” said AZ STARS 15U team Pres. Donna Littles “This was such a great tournament & for us to win it with all of the good teams that were in it is truly special”. “We just couldn’t get over the hump” said True Ballerz Coach Chris Holloway “I’m pleased with my team’s effort & play”.
“SUPER POOLS” CHAMPIONSHIP PARTING FACTS
While watching this game one thing was obvious & that one thing is, the AZ STARS 15U is one of the best 15U teams in the country for sure. Their depth, size, guard play, position depth, team length & athleticism make it hard for anyone to beat them. Even after losing a top notch player in 6’6 (F) Chris Davis, the AZ STARS 15U is still a top level squad. As far as the True Ballerz, look for them to really make some noise this upcoming spring & summer with their newly acquired (F) 6’6 Chris Davis & the play of the constant improving (CG) Khari Holloway & 6’4 all purpose (W) Marcus Ramirez .
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