(l to r) Taj Regans #12, Billy Preston Jr. #9, Brian Devereaux, #21, Mike Irving, #42, Elijah Walker, #8, Colden Davis, #2, DJ McDonald #3, Coach Darryl McDonald. Not pictured: Chasen Pender #19
CAVS 12U Elite team members fought and scraped to the end (and almost had the championship until the last few minutes of the final game) in the Swoosh Fall Classic in Anaheim, Saturday, November 6th and Sunday, November 7th, 2010.
Truthfully, the boys weren’t really ready yet for all that. Additionally, NONE of the games were easy. CAVS game “blowouts” usually occur when all players “hard-charge it” 100% and are fully prepared & focused. In my opinion, CAVS 12U were playing this weekend at “half-mast”—many of them still actively involved in football (rusty as all outdoors) and most still not in true b-ball sync yet for the usual rigorous string of tourneys that are a part of the CAVS schedule. However, this unexpected tourney was great to do. Hats off to the coaches! Why not do it? The boys are well-coached and actually HAVE the skills, regardless of rustiness. They needed to shake the dust off. It was good to see how much skill would be defrosted from hibernation.
With only eight players total this weekend (seven, if you count one ridiculously protested during Sunday’s first game and six at HAX center) CAVS 12U Elite started the tourney off with a bang at HAX Center on Saturday, vs. the 12U Hax Black Team, gaining a 53-32 victory. Yeah…nice score, but the six players had to work non-stop.
Sunday would be just a little harder.
CAVS 12U Elite once again faced off with FD1 (there have been games between the two in the past), who kicked it off with bulldog attacking intensity. However, CAVS 12U Elite managed to hold their own and lock it down (with a score much too close for comfort in my book) 29-23.
12U
then went on to defeat the OC Panthers 41-35, but started the game off behind. Luckily, CAVS 12U Elite team members were able to turn up
the heat. It was sheer internal hustle that led them to catch up and win.
I must say….THIS is a good, well-coached
team. However, CAVS 12U Elite battled it
out for the championship and actually had
em’—despite the MAN-SIZED big kid they have, who, by the way, is a BEAST down
low. If I cussed, I would right now. Anyway,
CAVS 12U Elite maintained a nice little
lead for quite some time. Several
defensive lapses and repeated fouls from CAVS 12U Elite resulted in extra free
throws to Surf City Swoosh’s credit. The final result was a 49-52 loss. Three
points. Did I say I if I cussed, I would right now? Usually Surf City
Swoosh crushes the competition everywhere they go....you know, like we do!
CAVS 12U Elite actually were on track to beat Surf City Swoosh during a time
when CAVS weren’t actually at the top
of their game. Okay. I say these two teams will meet
again. Bets are....there will be a CAVS victory. It won’t be easy then, either,
but I am certain CAVS 12U will be ready at that time to get it
in.
Now, look......
People know the
CAVS Elite divisions are usually first place winners. That’s been a part of
CAVS history, so when the outcome is different, folks flip. Calm down, baby! I
don’t know about you, but I saw a BUNCH of teams losing their playoff games,
going home with nothing. However
disappointing a 2nd place trophy may be to the young athletes and their
coaches (cause we all KNOW how it is) the bottom line is….CAVS 12U made it to the championship game
not ready, still active in football season (which alters the b-ball focus a
bit) still playing at
“half-mast”. Here’s one sentence and the subject will be left alone:
Wait until they go full throttle.
For more in-depth coverage of all games/events & details,
please visit http://www.cavsyouthbasketball.org.
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