FBC Defenders

The FBC Defenders are very proud to announce the selection of Jasmine Walker to the 2010 Allstar team for the Rose Classic Spring Tournament! Walker played on the Defenders team that won the Pacific Division by leading them in scoring, second in assists, and second in steals. The allstar game is scheduled to be played on Sunday June 6th, 2 p.m., at 300 Adelphi Street, Brooklyn, NY.

Congratulations Walker! You are having a tremendous season!

FBC Defenders (Stone) beat Team Alexander in a late game on Saturday May 8th to bring their record to an impressive 5-0 in the Rose Classic. The offense got started with Walker putting up a 3, missing, but alertly following up her shot, grabbing the rebound, and sinking a 2. It was a low scoring 1st quarter, but the Defenders led 14 to 7. Team Alexander had already racked up 5 fouls, to our 2, in that first quarter, setting a tone that was to continue throughout the game. The scoring drought continued for both teams, but Team Alexander managed to tie the game at 18-18 with 18 seconds left in the 1st half. The teams continued to battle in the 3rd quarter when Jas scored to tie it at 24-24 with a minute 20 seconds to go. We were fortunate to finish the 3rd quarter with a 30-24 lead. The challenge continued into the 4th quarter, but Defenders managed to pull ahead to 34-24 with 4 minutes left. The atmosphere was getting tense, with trash talk that even the spectators could hear! Our team took a huge blow when Jas went down with an injury late in the quarter. Despite this, the team pulled together to finish out the win with a 40-29 final score. Shalette had a monster game with 16 points and 9 rebounds, keeping the team in the game. Walker led with 5 assists.

Our thoughts and best wishes go out to Jaz, hoping for a speedy recovery for her! Situations like this remind us all of what’s truly important, and what team really means.

Coach Stone’s Defenders had their hands full in their contest today with New Heights at the Rose Classic, after falling to them 2 weeks ago in an unexpected match-up while filling in for a team which had forfeited.   Shalette got the offense going with the first basket, which was quickly followed by a 3-pointer from Walker.  It was soon apparent that this game would be different than their first meeting, with the score tied 11 to 11 with 1:26 remaining in the 1st quarter.  The Defenders eeked out  a lead at the end of the quarter with the score at 14-13.  Jerome (Erika’s Dad) commented from the stands that we “were fortunate to have a lead after getting out-rebounded and losing the ball so much.”   New Heights continued to bring the same aggressive style and  ball-stealing that we saw in the first game, but the Defenders continued to battle back even after multiple turnovers.  We lost some ground by half time with New Heights leading at 21 to 18.  The excitement continued in the 2nd half  with the game tied 26 to 26 at the end of the third quarter.  The game was marred by an unpleasant outburst from the opposing coaching staff, leading to 3 technicals and culminating with the New Heights Coach being thrown out of the game.   All that practice for our recent fundraising paid off as Ashanti sank her free throws.  Defenders were up 38 to 34 with just 1:10 left in the game.  After another technical against New Heights, and some nail-biting moments, the Defenders closed it out 42 to 38.  The honor of high scorer goes to Walker with 15 points.  Jas was strong under the boards with 9 rebounds, and Ashanti had 3 assists.  Go Defenders!

Congratulations to Jamine Lytle for being selected to the Eastern Conference All-Star Team at the Rose Classic Basketball Tournament in Brooklyn. Jasmine has been a versatile post player with the Defenders for the past 2 years. Now in her third season with the program she is being asked to play three positions (3, 4, 5) and has responded with her best season of her career. Only a sophomore at New Brunswick High School in New Jersey she was very excited to learn the news late last night (5/4/09). A lot of the credit for her success this season must be given the hard work she put in over the past 2 years with her personal trainer, Q James (BBallLife.com) and his player development program.

The All-Star game will be played at 12 noon on Sunday, 5/7, at JHS 113, 300 Adelphi Street, Brooklyn NY.

2009 Rose Classic - EAST ALL STAR TEAM

TAYLOR FORD (EXODUS BLACK), SADE JACKSON (NEWHEIGHTS), PORSHA POSTELL (NEW HEIGHTS), SHEENIKA SMITH (GOLDEN GIRLS), TERRY GREEN ( GOLDEN GIRLS), KARIN ROBINSON (LADY WILDCATS), JASMINE LYTLE (FBC DEFENDERS AAU), MARY “POPPIN” BOISVERT( PHILLY BELLES), BRIA HARTLEY (EXODUS NYC), JENN O’NEILL (EXODUS NYC), PIPPA  (WESTCHESTER HOOPERS), KELLY ROBINSON (NY XPLOSION), K. ALOISOS (NY X-PLOSION)