FBC Defenders

FBC Defenders (Stone) went undefeated at the Battle of Baltimore tournament, winning two more games on Friday July 23rd.  The 8:30 game took place at Coppin College, where the team faced Baltimore Charms.   The team got off to a good start, aided by strong rebounding at both the offensive and defensive ends of the court.  Shalette had a spin move in the paint, then faked out the opponent by dishing off to Tia.  Walker had a steal and then went all the way to the other end for a basket.  She also stole an inbound pass, went up, and got fouled.  Shalette had a block on the Charm’s big girl to stop their drive.  Ashanti got into the mix with a steal and and drive to the basket for 2.  We were ahead 22-9 and things were looking good, when the Charms had a resurgence at the end of the half.  They scored 7 unanswered points to bring the score to 22-16 at the half.

The second half started with a monster block from Shalette.  Shari had a drive to the basket for 2 and a foul.  She made the foul shot, but it came back due to a line violation.  Ashanti had a four point play when she sank a three and made the accompanying foul shot.  Tia had a steal in the paint, passed off to Walker, who drove for 2.  Our strong defense continued, with Janissa getting a steal, and then hitting a pull up jumper for 2.  Janissa also sank both foul shots on a technical against the Charms.  Tia got a block, then rebounded it, and passed off to Ashanti who went down the court for 2.  We had exteded our lead to 34-19. Jenean had a good hustle play saving an errant pass.  Erika and Shalette combined for a trap and caused a jump ball.  Tia hit a pull-up jumper, off glass, for 2.  The offense continued, along with strong defensive play, and we closed out the game with a 54-35 final score.

Ashanti was high scorer with 14 points, Shalette had a high of 10 rebounds.  Ashanti had 4 assists, and Shalette had 4 blocks.

Our last game of the tournament was against New York Elite at Loyola University at 1:30 P.M. on Friday.  Ashanti went down the court for 2.  This was followed by a Walker to Shalette to Walker play for 2.  The team was moving the ball well with Shalette passing to Tia who went up for 2.  Shalette hit a jumper at the foul line to bring us to 12-6 with 8 minutes to go in the 1st half.    She continued her rebounding prowess throughout the game.  Jenean drove into the basket and  had Janissa ready  to rebound and go back up.  Walker continued to drive strong to the basket, and her tough D also forced a turnover with a travel by Charms.  We had  a strong lead at the half:  28-14.

Ashanti opened the 2nd half with a 3.  Shalette had a steal, drove in the lane, spin move, and 2.  The good teamwork continued with Ashanti passing to Tia for 2 and 1, then Shari passing to Tia in the paint for 2.  Janissa hit a 3 to top it off.  The offense continued to click, and we finished strong at 60-38 to put the fourth win in the books.

Ashanti was high scorer with 20 points, high assists with 5, and 4 steals.  Shalette had 10 rebounds, and Tia had 2 blocks.

FBC Defenders got off to a great start at the Blue Chip Basketball’s “Battle of Baltimore” premier tournament by winning both of their games on July 22nd.  They started out strong against the NY WBA Lady Knicks in a game that was characterized by tough and effective defense and strong rebounding.  The offense took off with an assist from Ashanti to Tia who, with 3 defenders hanging on her, still managed a turnaround jumper for 2.  Shari tried a shot from beyond the arc, missed, but had Shalette there to grab the rebound and go back up for 2.  The Defenders honored their name by forcing 3 turnovers in a row with strong defense.  Tia was a strong force in the post, grabbing rebounds and putting them back in the bucket.  Ashanti had a steal and went coast to coast for 2.  Shalette pulled down a power rebound, kicked backed out to Walker, who had jumper for 2.  Janissa pulled down a rebound and dished to Shalette under the basket for another 2, to bring our lead to 16-4.  The strong post play by Tia and Shalette was balanced by outside shots, as Walker knocked down a 3.  Shari pulled off a steal, and Jenean hit from outside to put us up 21-8.  Walker closed out the half with a 2 under the basket.

The 2nd half started with a 3 attempt from Ashanti, short, but Shalette was there again with the clean-up rebound and put back for 2.  The defensive intensity continued as Shari forced a 5-second call on the floor against the Lady Knicks.  Later Erika and Ashanti ganged up to force another 5-second call. Janissa and Walker both put up 3’s.  The team was really clicking, with Tia kicking a ball back out to Janissa who put it up for another 3 to bring us to 34-13!    Shalette was all over the paint, pulling down rebounds and putting them back up.  The offense continued with a good balance of outside and inside shooting.  We closed out with a final score of 52-18.

High Scorer was Tia with 10 points, Shalette had the high rebounds with 9, Ashanti led with 5 assists.

Our second game of the day was against Coaches Choice EB Bears Harrison in the Reitz Arena at Loyola University.  We got off to an 8-0 run with Walker opening with a 3, followed by a 3 from Ashanti, and then an energizing post-up move from Shalette for 2.   As the fouls continued to rack up in the first half,  the girls maintained their composure while trying to adjust to the uneven calls.   They stayed in the game, led by Shalette, who had a spin move (a fan favorite) in the paint for 2.  The game was tied at 13-13 with 7:55 to go in the first half.  Shalette seemed to be ever present in this game, picking up rebounds for put backs, and stuffing balls out of bounds against Coaches’ Choice.    Walker contributed with a strong drive to the basket to tie the game again at 19-19.  Foul calls continued to be rained down on the Defenders, and the half ended with us down by four at 23-27. 

The second half started off with Walker going the length of the floor and getting fouled.  Shalette again was active in the paint rebounding and putting back shots.  Walker drove again and was fouled. Janissa, Jenean and Tia’s aggressive play continue to draw fouls.  The fans were getting edgy as the game stayed neck and neck throughout the half.   We continued to stay in the game, and  Coaches’ Choice started to rack up fouls and got to 1 and 1 fairly early.  While not stellar in our foul shooting, we made enough of them to push ahead and won the game 58-54.

Shalette takes top honors with high scorer at 18 points, and high rebounder with 14 points, and 4 blocked shots to boot!  Ashanti had 3 assists.

It is a hot & steamy summer saturday morning here in NYC as people begin to gather for what would ultimately become HISTORY for a team (and small program with only 2 teams) that seems to somehow show up 10 out 10 times wherever they go. In today’s me, me, me, take what I can world of aau basketball this would seem EXTREMELY odd but yet very refreshing if true. Well believe me it is absolutely, positively, TRUE. The FBC Defenders all arrive in new york this day ready to play there late morning game like they have so many times in the past. Parents and players gathering as if they are in their backyard preparing for a family function. Exchanging hugs and pleasantries like siblings all ultimately making there was to the matriarch of the program. Is this real? Some might think it’s not but for this program it is because of one primary founding principle. The FBC Defenders are a family through and through. Know that and NEVER doubt it, cause for EVERY family that it touches, they do KNOW it is ABSOLUTELY true.

here at the Cage, a world famous venue sitting in village next door to the Blue Note. The bustle picking up now the Defenders are finally up, gametime. Now at the cage fans all know when the Defenders play it will be an exciting game. Especially since they have this extremely dynamic coach who always seems to come with kid never seen before who just erupts at some point in a game. Win or Lose! It is amazing to watch and so the fence outside starts to pack.  The refs call for captains, little minute check, jump ball and the game is on. As the Positive direction team come out they jump on the Defenders from the start. A little startle the defenders take a quick blow but survive it. Remember now that’s nothing for them. Why? Because that who they are and they know it is NOT over yet game just started. Staring into the eyes of one of the Pd players is a kid that really looks like she should be at the short somewhere hanging. But what THEY don’t know is she is smoldering. Up the floor, down the floor they go. And them all of a suddden that same young lady does a quick body check. AM I FEELING, YES, IS IT TIME, HECK YEAH, you see had been asked that at key times in games before by her coach. BUT TODAY SHE IS NOT WAITING FOR HIM. Today it would be her who decides. At that moment she demanded the ball and BANG! Rain a 3333333333! On her way back she thought, that felt good. O crap you guy are in trouble and you don’t even know. Then all of a sudden she smiled. Now running the point for the Defenders is Ashanti Bess. Serving at point due to the abscence of the talented Shari Jones who normally starts. Now Ashanti has been working with Coach Stone to get her mentally to a place where she can KNOW she is a beast. Today she is there so looking this teammate of hers she sees it and thinks OMG. So next few position she is pass her the ball EVERYTIME she can. Who is she? Only the FBC Defenders Rose Classic famous Janissa “let id rain” Delzo!!!!!!! And for a short while at west fourth the sun was out but Janissa began to just make it RAIN 3s. Before the other team could realize the Defenders were right back in it and the team called time. Yelling at her team not to relax the coach made a critical mistake. She told her team not to let up until up by twenty. Bad move as the Defenders heard that and it was OVER!

Final Score FBC Defenders 59    Positive Direction 41    GAME OVER!

High Scorers Jasmine “ol skool” Phelps with 14 pts, Shalette “The Beastie” with 10pts and of course Janissa “Rain” Delzo 10 pts, Tia “Paryana” Kelly 9 brds 4 blks, and final Ashanti “you don’t know” Bess 7 dimes.

Now I know the coach so thought why not say hello. To my surprise the team was coach by Jamine “big pretty smile” Lytle currently the single most hearlded Defenders player of ALL time and sitting quietly on the bench with her making her coaching debut was MRS BRENDA STONE, the coaches wife. OMG!

All former defenders players, parents, fans, et al!!! If you were ever a part of team or program that he was a part of NOW is the time you have been waiting for in your life. NOW you have the chance to do something for that darn old man you SAY you LUV so Much! So listen up! He has issued a special executive order that reads as follows:

SUBJECT: Recall All Soldiers (past and present)

Mission: Launch of a brand you Brigade!!!!

When: TBD (around mid august)

Report Destination: You will be notified in writing

Immediate Action: Send the following to commander via email to fbcdefendersaau@gmail.com

Name, yr of service (played), phone, email, us mail, fb, etc, etc, IMMEDIATELY!!!!

Now Go!!!!!!

FBC Defenders (Stone) had 1 win and 1 loss today at the Cage in the West 4th Street tournament.  The Defenders took the first game agains the Brooklyn Saints with a final score of 55-34.  Walker scored the first 7 points for the team, then inbounded to Shalette under the basket who put it up for a bucket.  Shalette went on to score 6 more points, ending the quarter at 15-10.  One of the Saints players went down with an injury, and they were forced to play the rest of the game with 4 players.  We continued to spread the offense around, with Walker and Shalette driving and making plays, Ashanti hitting for 3, and Jenean contributing at the foul line.  Janissa hit off the glass for 2, and Tia had a rebound, put back, and foul.  We were ahead 45 to 25 at the end of the 3rd quarter.  The 4th quarter started with Shari finding Ashanti, who took it in for 2.  Shari grabbed a steal, and Jenean pulled down a rebound and put it back for 2.  We continued to work on defense, with Shari forcing a 10 second turnover.  We closed out the game strong, finishing at 55-34.  Shalette was the high scorer with 22, and high rebounder with 12.  Ashanti had 5 assists and 3 steals.

It looked as though the weather might not cooperate for the 2nd game against Lady Xnen, with a few raindrops starting to fall when we tipped off at 11:45.  The game started with turnovers from both sides, and we looked like we needed to settle down.  The game stayed close in the early going, with the half ending with Defenders down by one at 23-24.  The game got increasingly physical, and we seemed to lose our way in the 2nd half.  Unfortunately, we never found our way back and we lost 36-54.  Shalette and Walker both had a high of 10 points, Tia had the high of 11 rebounds, and Ashanti and Walker both had 2 assists.

FBC Defenders (Stone) won 4 of 6 games at the Penn State Blue Chip Invitational Tournament to capture 10th place out of the 64 teams in the Southern Bracket.  This was a strong showing in this competitive tournament.  Congratulations to all the girls for this great outcome, and for surviving the brutal heat!

The team played their final game on Thursday against the PSPA Rams.  The game was slow going in the early minutes, and stayed close throughout the first half, which ended with Defenders down by 2, at 26-28.  The team seemed to run out of gas in the 2nd half, with what looked like a lot of tired legs.  We were also done in at the foul line, with a lot potential points left at the line.  The team gave it their all, and even hit a 3 at the buzzer.  But, unfortunately it was not enough, and we fell to the Rams 41-57.

Tia and Shalette shared high rebounds with 11 each.  Tia and Walker had high scorer with 10 points each.  Ashanti had the high for assists, with 5.