SH Challenge Preview

The Select Hoops Challenge is set to take place this weekend at Mass Premier Courts and there is no shortage of heavy weights. This tournament boasts three division-one state champions from the spring including MPC Harney, MPC Swish DaLuz and Honey Badgers.

The varsity pool has some of the area's top talent. The South Shore Shamrocks have a great mix of size, shooting and athleticsm loaded with players from Quincy and Hanover spearheaded by Stephanie Flynn, Gabriella Jerahian, Lissy Delahunt and Megan Dixon.

The Honey Badgers are local legends in the Attleboro area and continue to build on their impressive resume. This season they added three key pieces to their already loaded roster in Jen Peel (Mansfield), Emma Roush (Rivers) and Bella Tonetti (Braintree). Add those three newcomers to staples Emma Forbes (Bishop Feehan), Katie Nelson (BF), Riley and Molly Lahiff (BF), Julia Strachan (North Attleboro) and Caroline Collard (North Attleboro), and Honey Badgers (all 10th graders) can compete and beat any team in New England regardless of age.

The MPC Swish enter this weekend on a rare losing streak after eating a little humble pie last Sunday against Bay State Magic Russell and Rivals-Hazelton. This freshmen contingent will be an underdog tomorrow morning again as they take on the two aforementioned teams, Shamrocks and Badgers. To beat those teams, it will require a full team effort from the frosh.

The varsity pool is rounded out by Scituate, M-Plex Elms - a team that has been together for five years - and MT Elite Crowley.

The Honey Badgers hybrid squad highlights the 10th grade age level that also features CMFB, Team BSB, New England Flames, Central MA Lightning and ASA Hoops.

At the 9th grade age level, MPC Mordarski is coming off some nice wins at Roger Williams University and looks to continue that success against Mass Mavericks (coming off some big wins of their own at ZG), MPC Swish Musco and North Central Blaze.

At the middle school age levels, the New Jersey Gym Ratz are bringing multiple teams in hopes of leaving the bay state with some t-shirt souvenirs. Standing in their way will be local power houses, Mass Premier Courts, Angel, MA Gym Rats, CC Waves, MT Elite and the Baby Badgers.

Good luck to all this weekend!

MPC Tip-Off Classic 8th Grade Boys Recap/All-Tourney Team

The 8^th grade pool at this year’s Fall Tip-Off Tournament was absolutely loaded. Three of the top four teams in last year’s state tournament met up to battle for the first tournament title of the 2014 fall season! The Boston Corinthians, the South Shore WolfPack and “the Academy” are all very familiar with each other and would pick up right where they had left off last spring.

The Boston Corinthians would have a tough road to the title by having to get through both the Academy and the Central Mass Swarm. The Swarm, appropriately named, did just that in the first half versus the Corinthians causing havoc on the defensive end and generating dozens of turnovers. Behind lead guard Sam Adusei, the Swarm looked much improved from last year and will be a team to keep an eye on this year. If they continue to improve at their current rate, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them in the mix for the 8^th grade Final Four this spring. The game went back and forth for a while, but the Boston Corinthians proved to be too much and would start to slowly pull away behind very good team basketball. With a well balanced scoring attack and very impressive play by guard Matt Doherty and forward Chris Camille, the Corinthians came out on top. Never once did the Swarm back down and fought till the final buzzer. The Swarm may have lost the game, but showed a lot of people the type of team they really are.

The WolfPack advanced to the finals after an incredible back and forth matchup with the Academy. Despite being behind early and trailing by double digits at half time, the WolfPack continued to battle and clawed their way back to cut the game to a two point deficit with ten seconds to play. Ten seconds was all the time they would need, as the ball swung around half court into the hands of Mike Simon who swished a game winning three point basket as the horn sounded. The Academy had a strong showing in and around the paint from forwards William Goss and Daniel Schlackman who both posted double doubles in the losing effort.

With pool play complete, the Boston Corinthians would advance to play the South Shore WolfPack in the Championship Game of the MPC Fall Tip Off Tournament. The Corinthians would hop out to a 15-5 lead to start the game behind an aggressive full court press off of the opening basket. Matt Doherty was impressive on both ends of the floor causing steals on one end and finishing on the other. The WolfPack immediately answered with a run of their own bringing the game to 20-15 with just over five minutes to play in the first half. The half would end similarly to the way it started as Corinthians forward Christopher Camille started taking the game over. He was a beast around the rim, grabbing offensive rebound after offensive rebound and finishing the half with a near double-double. The WolfPack would go into half time down by 16, 36-20. 

Just as they had done all weekend the WolfPack refused to give up and with strong interior play from Matt Malone and Spencer Cassell they would bring the game back to a single digit deficit trailing only 33-40 with just over 5 minutes to play. Spencer Cassell played very strong around the basket, battling Camille for rebounds and finished the game with eight points 12 rebounds. Matt Malone took advantage of smaller defenders covering him, posting up other guards and finishing strong around the basket. He finished with 10 points of his game high 16 points in the second half fighting to keep the game close. Over the last five minutes Doherty, Camille and the rest of the Corinthians proved to be too much and finished the game on yet another double digit run.  

Congratulations to the Boston Corinthians for capturing the 2014 MPC Fall Tip-Off Title with an impressive 52-37 victory in the finals.

All-Tournament Team for the 8^th Grade Division

MVP

 Matt Doherty Boston Corinthians

All Star Team

Christopher Camille – Boston Corinthians

Spencer Cassell – South Shore Wolf Pack

Matt Malone- South Shore Wolf Pack

Sam Adusei - Central Mass Swarm

Daniel Schlackman – MPC the Academy 

MPC Swish 62, Massasoit Warriors 24

MPC Swish picked up this fall where their spring season left off with a convincing opening win over Massasoit Warriors, 62-24, in the varsity division of the Mass Premier Courts Kick-Off Tournament. MPC Swish will have its hands full tomorrow with Central MA Shooters and Bay State Magic Elite.

Individual stats for MPC Swish:

Starters
Ashley Sampson - 4 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 4 steals.
Nicole Gallagher - 13 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 steals.
Kaylin Reen - 13 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 4 steals, 1 block.
Tess Sussman - 6 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals, 1 block.
Erika Ochenduszko - 6 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals.

Substitutions
Kiera Fernandes - 11 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block.
Lily Sykes - 2 assists.
Kaitlyn Guenet - 7 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist.
Shannon Lynch - 3 points, 3 rebounds.

Game Highlights: http://www.krossover.com/intelligence/shared/542818d8c9b63

MPC Swish Elite Fall '14

Coming off the spring season where the MPC Swish went unbeaten against every team they faced at their age level in New England, the girls look to use the fall season to gear up for their first high school season.

The Swish will return spring starters Ashley Sampson (Foxboro), Nicole Gallagher (Bishop Feehan), Kaitlyn Guenet (Cardinal Spellman), Tess Sussman (Rivers) and Anna Shaughnessy (Bishop Feehan). Sampson is the quarterback of this exciting unit, while Nicole Gallagher and Anna Shaughnessy provide the bulk of the scoring. Guenet is the glue player, that leads the pressing attack and is an improved scorer. Sussman is an extremely talented player (perhaps best in the state) that can play any position and consistently sets up her teammates for easy buckets.

Kaylin Reen (Norwood) is back for her team-leading 8th season with the team and figures to be one of the catalysts off the bench, with her sharp shooting and high basketball IQ. Swish staples Lily Sykes (Foxboro) and Kiera Fernandes (Franklin) are also back in the fold. Sykes is a two-sport stud that plays big minutes for FHS varsity soccer, but when available is an instant game changer. Unfortunately, Fernandes will start the season on the injured list with an ankle injury. Swish will miss her versatility and power game. Shannon Lynch (Bridgewater-Raynham) is back for her third season with the team and has gotten consistently better each season with her shot and ball handling ability.  

The Swish made two big additions this fall. Erika Ochenduszko (Rockland) and Megan Hill (Mansfield) join the team and will bolster the front line. Ochenduszko is a multi-talented post player that has the ability to score with her back to the basket or face up, and also has the ability to step out and knock down the three-ball. Hill is a 6'2 post player that can dominant the glass on both ends and is an extremely good passer for her size, while at times is too unselfish. Both players figure to be major contributors immediately.

Tournament Schedule:
September 27-28 - Mass Premier Courts Fall Kick-off
October 3-4 - NEXBall (Roger Williams University)
October 11-12 - Select Hoops Challenge at Mass Premier Courts
October 24-25 - Mass Premier Courts Halloween Bash
November 1-2 - Veterans Day Classic (RI Breakers - Marion, MA)

2014 Fall AAU Championship Series Tournament Pass

This fall tournament pass is designed to give your team the perfect amateur basketball season at the lowest possible cost AND to enter in multiple tournaments run by multiple professional tournament hosts! After you purchase the number of tournaments you would like to participate in, a director will call you to discuss the exact tournaments you want.

9 BOYS TOURNAMENTS TO CHOOSE FROM & 6 GIRLS TOURNAMNETS TO CHOOSE FROM! To see the complete list, visit www.mpcourts.org.

COSTS:
3 Tournaments $845.00
4 Tournaments $1095.00
5 Tournaments $1325.00
6 Tournaments $1530.00

*1 Day Event’s Counts as a Half Tournament.

TOURNAMENT PASS INCLUDES: 7 Weekends for your teams to play in, flexible weekends & locations, choose from multiple tournaments each weekend, experience different venues, officials, rules and hosts all in one season pass!

Worthwhile SH Area Fall Events

Girls 

September 27-28

MPC Fall Kick-Off

October 4-5

NEXBBall

October 11-12

Select Hoops Fall Challenge @ Mass Premier Courts

October 18-19

Cape Cod Fall Classic

October 25-26

Mass Premier Halloween Bash

November 1-2

MPC Fall Classic

Veteran's Day Classic

November 8th

Sting Elite One-Day 

November 15th

Select Hoops Proving Grounds

Showcase for Middle School Players

Boys

September 20th

Mass Premier College Showcase

High School players looking to play at the next level. #BeSeen

Hoop Rootz King of the Court

Showcase for middle school boys at M-Plex.

September 27-28

MPC Fall Kick-Off

October 4-5

MPC Fall Shootout

October 11-12

Hoop Rootz - Beast of the East

Hanover

October 18-19

Bay State Magic Fall Throwdown

Foxboro

October 25-26

MPC Halloween Bash

November 1-2

MPC Fall Classic

November 8-9

Boston Warriors Fall Wrapup

November 15

Select Hoops Proving Grounds

Select Hoops Fall Challenge

Select Hoops is hosting a girls Fall AAU tournament at Mass Premier Courts in Foxboro, MA on October 11-12, 2014.

Grades: 4th-12th A/B
Format: 3+, pool play to championship
Fee: $295

Team champions will be awarded T-shirts. All-tournament team and MVP will be named for each age group and level.

Previews and recaps will be posted on the blog. Live game updates will be provided via twitter @SelectHoopsMA.

For more information, visit http://www.selecthoops.com/reg-sh-girls-fall-challenge.html.