FBC Defenders

FBC Defenders (Stone) played their second game at Penn State against NY Pride Gray, a Westchester County NY team, as the stifling heat continued to test even the most well hydrated athletes.  Pride scored first on 2 foul shots, but Defenders got moving with a 3 from Ashanti.  The team came out playing good defense, with a steal by Shalette, and in short order an assist from Shari to Shalette for 2, to tie the game at 5-5.   Ashanti got a block, and fast break, dished off to Shari, who dished back to Ashanti, who completed the layup for 2.  What a nice looking play!  Walker grabbed a steal, then Ashanti put up a long miss, but Tia was there to clean-up with a rebound and up for 2.  The defense was now firing on all cylinders, as Shari got a steal, and continued to execute pressure defense at the top of the key.  Ashanti forced a backcourt call on the Pride to add to the forced turnovers.  Jas added on by getting a steal, but unfortunately got hurt with 7 minutes left in the first half, and had to leave the game.  (All the team’s thoughts are with you Jas).  The offense continued to be spread around with baskets from Janissa and Jenean.  Jenean contributed with a steal, then shot from outside, and Tia was there to grab the rebound, put it back up for 2 and a foul.  Jenean and Shari teamed up for a trap, then grabbed the ball for a steal.  The half closed with Defenders ahead 15 to 10.

In the second half, Shari stole the ball, drove into the lane, missed, but had Tia there for the rebound and put back.  Shalette hit a turnaround jumper to make the score 19 to 13.  Shari’s stifling defense on the opposing guard resulted in a 5 second call/turnover.  Then we started trading 3’s with Pride scoring, then Ashanti hitting for 3, then Pride hitting for 3.  It was 22-18 with 10:53 to go.  Shari and Shalette teamed up again with Shari passing in to Shalette in the lane who put it up for 2.  More 3’s raining down with Ashanti and Janissa both hitting them.  Ashanti got a steal, then went full court for 2.  Shari hit a pull up jumper and we were now at 34-27.  In a continuing theme, Tia rebounded a teammate’s miss and put it back up for 2.  Shalette rebounded a missed foul shot, and powered it back up for 2 and a foul.  We closed out the game strong with a 40-27 final score.

Ashanti had high score with 13, with Tia neck and neck with 12.  Tia had the game high 9 rebounds, Shari had game high 3 assists.  Shalette had 4 steals.

Everyone arrived relatively intact to State College for the big tournament, though we almost lost a few parents waiting in an extremely long line, in 100+ degree heat, at high noon, waiting for admissions wristbands — and these were the pre-paid ones, no less.  But we all made it, and the team viewed the NCAA video in the Bryce Jordan Center with throngs of AAU teams doing the wave inside the arena.

Our first game tipped off at 6:00 PM, in the Southern Division Bracket IV, against the Chesco Lightning, a Pennsylvania team. Tia got the scoring started, shooting 1 of 2 from the foul line.  The Lighting came through with a 3, which Walker quickly answered with a 3 of her own.  Tia grabbed a rebound and had a put-back to put us ahead at 6-4 in the early going.   With some foul calls against us, we were soon down 6 to 8 with 9:21 to go.  Ashanti had a drive to the basket, miss, which Jas quickly put back up for 2, tying the game up at 8-8.  Good defense led to a ball being tipped out, picked up by Janissa who drove the length of the court and was fouled.  Jas contributed another good defensive play as she prevented a pass into the paint, swatting the ball out.  Defense led to offense once again, with Jas going up for 2.  With good defense on the perimeter, and lots of defensive rebounds, we kept things close at 11 to 12 with 5 minutes to go in the half.  On an inbound X play under our basket, Shari passed to Jas who completed the basket to put us ahead at 13-12.  We continued to have good defensive pressure, particularly in the last few minutes of the half.  We put together some offense with Shalette to Ashanti for 2, Jas for 2 in the paint, and Tia battling for rebounds and a putback for 2 more.  We closed out the half leading 20 to 13.

The second half got started with Ashanti and Walker hitting back to back 3’s to increase our lead to 26 to 13.  A few sloppy passes which led to turnovers, and before you know it we were at 28-22.  A good hustle play by Janean on defense led to a jump ball.  Tia made her presence known in the post with a beautiful rebound and putback, and then another, to bring us to 35 to 26.  Janissa grabbed a steal, and then tripped up while driving to the basket, on her way out of bounds, threw the ball backwards where Jas was waiting to clean up with a 2.  Shalette contributed with a drive down the lane, spin move, up and fouled.  She was also on the receiving end of a give and go from Jas which she put up for 2.  We had another good execution of an inbound play from Walker to Jas for 2 bringing our lead to 42 to 31.  Ashanti hit from way downtown for a long 3, and then Shalette helped close out the game with a monstrous block on the defensive end.   Final Score: 49 to 39.

Jas was high scorer with 15 points, and high rebounder with 10.  Ashanti had 4 assists.  Jas had 2 blocked shots.