FBC Defenders

The FBC Defenders(STONE) finished up the regular season on a tear (3rd Place) as their final standing are as follows; 4 wins 2 losses, played without their regular season head coach (John Stone) for all W 4th Street games. New head coach (Jasmine Lytle) guided the squad the allof the way and has been flawless in that effort. Big thanks the the adults (John Frederick) on the bench as the team could not possibly have done this without you (Jerod, Mrs. Stone, Andrea). The program is so lucky to have people like you! Reason, Season, Lifetime.

Next up for the Defenders @ W 4th Street are the playoffs where they will be the Lady XMEN in the semi-final game @ 9:15 a.m. Hope to see all Defenders family at the game!!!!

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!

Hey coach, I hope you’re doing well just keeping you updated with the games. Today we had to play 4 on 4 against the PA Storm. We only scored 2 points in the first half to the storm’s 20 something, during the start of the second half the team was motivated by the parents to hustle and play hard. With the help of Parris… J. Branker and Janaysia James to get us scoring, we soon found out that we could actually play a game with only 4 people. I was the teams leading scorer with 8 points, but with 4 or 5 minuets left on the clock Parris J. Branker goes down with a minor knee injury. The game ended 16-33., just as I was geting into a scoring groove, I was upset and then realized that our team was fighting, not only to try to come back and make the game close but to also prove to our parents and coach that we four players have heart and really wanted to play. Today was a good day for FBC DefendersAAU Frederick team.

By Karalyne Brown

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.

The 2010 Defenders program will once again participate in the Frederick Douglas Summer league at 104th & Columbus Ave this summer. League play begins on June 26th and the actual schedule should become available late next week. Stay tuned for more details!!!

The 2010 Defenders program will once again participate in the W. 4th Street league this summer. League play begins on June 26th and the actual schedule should become available late next week. Stay tuned for more details!!!

The GymRat Challenge tournament information, schedule, directions, admission, etc has been released. Check the games calendar under schedule of games for a list of FBC Defenders game times. For more information on the tournament go to  GymRatChallenge Website

FBC Defenders (Frederick) completed a 4-game sweep to take the title at the Tom Dowd Memorial Tournament on May 30th, in Central Valley, NY.  Congratulations to the team on their stellar play, their teamwork, and their focus.  Another big trophy for the program! 2010 Champs!!!

Penn State Admissions

New for 2010 4- Day passes can be bought online by June 30, 2010 for an additional $5 savings per ticket. Players are free.

You must bring your email confirmation and a picture ID (license) to be able to pick up your bands. You will be able to pick up your bands at the Gate A and Gate B starting 9 am-1:00 pm July 5th Monday. Each person must be present in order to have Blue Chip Staff put the band on the wrist.
Daily passes will be available at the venue to purchase $10 per day Adult/ $6 per day Student/Senior (65 or older)

Adult Daily: $10
Adult 4-Day: $30 if bought online
4-Day purchased at the event: $35 Student/Senior Daily: $6.
Student/Senior 4-Day: $20 if bought online
12 and under are FREE.
(Seniors are 65 or older)