FBC Defenders

CONGRATULATIONS to the defenders program as they pulled together to make it to the final 4 in the Pacific Bracket at the 2011 US Invitational at Penn State! In the semi-final game the defenders finally lost one but that is not the real story of the game. They started with only 5 players against the Team Cisco from Quebec City Canada (11 players).  At the half the defenders were down by only 3 pts and Team Cisco realized they were in a dog fight. The start of the second half proved that the defenders were there to win it all but with 10 minutes left (16min half) a player fouled out of the game! Determined to fight until the end, cause that is what defenders do, the FBC Defenders switched to a diamond defense (with only 4 player eligible) and for the next 6mins 30sec the score differential was never more than 5 pts. Can you believe that?! But with 3mins 30sec left in the game fatigue finally overtook the defender and they eventually lost the game by 13pts. On that day the team showed everyone why their head coach refers to all players in his program, he is the founder, as SOLDIERS!!! Yes they lost the battle, but they WON the war! Stay tuned as the player stats will be posted on this website shortly…

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!

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.

FBC Defenders (Stone) tipped off at 11:30 AM on Wednesday, July 7th against the Buffalo Storm for their fourth game of the Penn State Blue Chip Tournament.  The Storm had a 5-0 run going until Walker drove into the lane, got fouled, and made 1 of her free throws.  Shari had a pass to Tia in the high post and she was fouled on her turnaround jumper, making 2 of 2, to bring the score to 3-5.  This was a sign of things to come, as the refs called an extremely tight game, calling every slight hand check and contact as a foul.  Defenders executed well on defense, forcing the Storm to step out on the baseline and causing a turnover.  Shari continued the foul festival, driving in for a layup and, you guessed it, fouled.  Shalette drove the lane next, and was also fouled.  Walker had a good block on a drive into the paint, followed by a steal by Shari, drive, made layup and 1 (not made).  Ashanti hit a 3 to bring us to 9-5.  The Storm also spent a lot time at the line, and the score was tied up at 9-9.  Shalette was active under the boards, getting her own rebound and putting it up for a basket for 11-9.  Erika had a good defensive play disrupting a pass into the paint.  Ashanti put up a 3, missed, but had Shalette there to rebound it, go up and get the foul, and shoot 2 of 2 from the foul line to put the score to 13-11.  Shari had a pass ahead to Walker who drove in for 2 to make it 15-11.  Janissa’s strong defense forced a travel call for another turnover.  Shari had a drive into the lane, got fouled, and made 2 of 3 to extend our lead to 17-13.  A midrange jumper by Janissa took us to 19-13.  The Storm battled back to get the score to 19-17.  Shari made a pass in to Shalette who put it up for 2 to bring us to 21-17.  Amazingly, we were already into 1 and 1 foul shots with several minutes to go in the half.  Shari had a drive, got fouled, and made 1 of 2 shots.  We ended the half at 21-18.

The second half got started with more foul calls, much to the chagrin of supporters from both teams.  Storm took the lead at 21-22.  We traded baskets, then Shari found Janissa for a 3 to bring the lead back to our side at 26-24.  Walker stole the ball, and went coast to coast for 2.  More seemingly endless foul shooting, until Janissa hit another 3 to make the score 32-28.  Walker had another drive, followed by 2 foul shots, then a steal on an inbound pass.  Ashanti also took a steal and went the length of the court for 2.  Ashanti hit a 3 to bring the score to 39-34.  The Storm kept hanging on, taking advantage of their free throws.  Shalette continued to make a lot of plays under the boards until she fouled out with 5:14 to go in the half.  We started to take advantage of the ref’s close calling by driving more to the basket.  Walker and Janissa both got fouled and made 2 of 2.  Shari was tussling under the boards with the big girls, while Tia got foulded and made 1 of 2.  We had more fouls to close out the final minute, but we came out ahead 47-38.  All the fans would have preferred to see less foul calls, and have the game flow more, but we’ll take the win.

High Scorer and Rebounder goes to Walker with 11 points and 7 rebounds.  Shari and Walker both had high assists with 3 each.  Shalette had 1 block.

FBC Defenders (Stone) played their third game at Penn State against Basketball to the Limit on Tuesday afternoon.  The other team got off to a 4 point lead, but an assist from Shari to Walker for 3, soon brought us to 3-4.  Shari hit Tia in the post, who then had a turnaround jumper to give us the lead at 5-4.  Defenders were fighting hard for rebounds, with Janissa putting one back up and taking the foul.  She hit 2 of 2 from the line.  Ashanti’s 3 attempt was rebounded by Shalette, put back up for 2 and 1.  Shalette also treated us to another spin move in the lane to keep us within 2, at 11-13 with 6:39 in the first half.  Defensive pressure by Walker forced a travel by the opponent.  Ashanti connected on a 3 to tie the game at 14-14.  Walker drove down the lane, made her shot, and got fouled to bring up ahead at 17-16.  Ashanti grabbed a steal and took off, with Janissa trailing. Janissa then took the pass and made a pull up jumper for 2.  We were tied again at 19-19.  Shalette drove through the lane, got fouled, and made 2 of 2 to give us the 21-19 lead with 2:10 to go in the half.  Shari hit for a 3, bringing the lead to 24-19.  Erika jumped into the passing lane to grab a steal.   We ended the half ahead 24-21.

The second half continued to be a nail-biter, with Shari getting a steal and Shalette driving all the way for 2, to tie us at 26-26.  Walker connected on a short jumper to push us ahead 28-26.  Shalette was aggressive, fighting under the boards, and muscling up shots.  Walker drove for 2, and 1.  Shari executed some excellent defense against the back door play, swatting the ball out and back to us.  Jenean displayed her usual defensive prowess.  We suffered a serious blow when Ashanti got tangled up with a player on the other team who was driving, and went down hard.  She left the game after this scary collision with the floor.  We were down 34-36 at 5:24 to go in the game.  We continued neck and neck for the remaining minutes, and were up 38-36 with 2:09 to go.  Legs were getting weary by this point in the contest.  There were also some very puzzling calls by the officials at the end of the game, including a very questionable traveling call.  The girls all fought hard, but lost 39-44.

High Scorer was Shalette with 10 points and 10 rebounds.  Ashanti and Walker had 2 steals each, and high assists goes to Ashanti with 4.

FBC Defenders (Frederick) lost a tough game to CBC, a Connecticut team, at Penn State.  The game got started with Karalyne tying up CBC’s center under the basket for a jump ball.  Nay Nay also showed some strong D with a block in the paint.  Janissa put up a 3, missed, but Karalyne rebounded and put it back up for 2.  Unfortunately, the team also had several errant passes which led to turnovers and found themselves down by 7 to 23 with just a few minutes to go in the half.  Karalyne hung in there with good post defense of CBC’s big girl. Jackie executed some tough defense, coming away with a steal.  Parris hit an outside shot, called a 2 by the refs, but a 3 from the parent’s view, to bring us to 22 to 35.  Parris also hit 2 of 2 from the line after being fouled on a drive to the basket.  Karalyne showed a spin move, turnaround jumper for 2.  Despite a good effort, and with a short-handed squad, the team lost with a final score of 34-46.

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.