In the News

The first time Alana Beard traveled 1,700 miles across the country to play basketball, the guard from Shreveport, La., got so homesick that she cried herself to sleep.

Alana Beard has taken a hands-on approach to sponsoring local AAU teams.

But Beard, now with the Washington Mystics, didn't have much of a choice. The club team she played with in Shreveport didn't have the money to travel extensively. If she wanted exposure, she would have to go elsewhere.

Beard has never forgotten the mixture of frustration and heartbreak she felt during that time. So she's decided that prospects won't have to deal with the same problems she did.

Beard is one of a handful of professional players -- current and former -- who are giving back to the game, volunteering their time, expertise and money into the upcoming crop of girls basketball players across the nation.

Shortly after Beard was drafted by the Mystics in 2004, she established the Alana Beard Foundation, a nonprofit that sponsors six club teams in the D.C. area -- known as Alana Beard's Future -- as well as one team in Shreveport, the Southern Mystics.

"I'm so inspired and encouraged to give back," said Beard, explaining that her foundation aims to create "an environment with no excuses."

Beard does more than donate her money and name to some of the best players in the Maryland area, though; she is the all-involved big sister, helping throw birthday parties, joining the drills at practice and acting as cheerleader during games.

"The first time she was in the gym it's was like, 'Alana's here! Alana's here!'," said Camille Calhoun, a 2013 forward on the Future Chestnut team. "But with our team now, it's cool, she comes on the court with us and watches us. She's one of my friends now."

Beard can also provide a pick-me-up when needed.

"One player broke her leg and we had told Alana and she had flowers delivered to her the next morning," said Future coach Keith Chestnut. "She really loves the girls."

But Beard isn't the only WNBA player who still is still involved in the high-school circuit. The Phoenix Mercury's Diana Taurasi, of UConn fame, is also giving back.

The guard from Chino, Calif., spent her teenage years playing for the Cal Storm of Santa Barbara and is still a part of the program, letting their top team use her name and helping outfit them with gear.

"She's very limited in terms of her involvement physically because of her schedule, but she basically supports our Team Taurasi with apparel," explained Cal Storm coach George Quintero. "They had it all last year -- headbands, wristbands, shooting shirts, playing shoes, shoes to walk around in. They were pretty decked out."

Taurasi might not be able to be in gyms physically, but she's often there in other ways. Quintero says Taurasi will occasionally send him an inspirational text before a big game to read to the team.

"Just a text, that's all they need," Quintero said. "Their eyes just light up."

Diana Turasi has given her support to her former AAU team.

Beard says she already has plans for a mini-rivalry or tournament with other pro-player sponsored teams at some point.

"I mentioned it to Tamika Catchings and I told Marissa Coleman it would be cool for her to get a team," Beard said. "We're gonna get some sort of rivalry going, have Tamika Catching's team playing Alana Beard's Future playing Team Taurasi, stuff like that."

Giving back to the game is something Gerald Wilkins has practicing for years. The former New York Knick founded PREP -- Players Returning to Educate Players -- in 2002, a foundation dedicated to helping the next generation of ballers.

"The game gave a lot to me," said Wilkins, who coaches the Georgia Metros 15U team that includes his daughter, Holli. "Lots of pro players retire and try to do something else, then they find their way back. You have 25 years of skills and education, so you do what they do best."

Wilkins is in the midst of building a gym where PREP can train more young players and says he's optimistic it will continue to grow. And just like Wilkins, Beard insists that giving back isn't that unusual, or something she should be praised for.

"I don't like to get credit for things I'm supposed to do," she said. "I'm supposed to do this. I want to give kids every avenue to succeed."

Beard would have talked more, but she didn't have time -- she was on her way out the door to catch tipoff of a Future game.

Bowie hoops trio takes game to private ranks, finds bench success

Three Bowie area hoopsters are helping to make an impact on one of the top high school girls basketball teams in the Baltimore-Washington area. Torri Chestnut, Aleah Epps and Camille Calhoun are freshmen at Archbishop Spalding High School and have helped lead the team to a 16-2 record the MIAA conference.

Still getting acclimated to wearing their private school uniform during the day, the trio is having no problem fitting into their basketball uniform on the courts. "It took a little while to get used to wearing a skirt everyday" said Calhoun.

Spalding is ranked No. 1 by the Baltimore Sun and No. 3 by the Washington Post and each of the girls - Chestnut, Epps and Calhoun - have strong roots in Bowie. Chestnut and Epps played for South Bowie Boys and Girls Club while Calhoun played for Bowie Boys and Girls Club. In 2009 Epps and Calhoun helped their Samuel Ogle Middle School teammates win the Prince George's County Middle School basketball championship.

Even though each of the three girls currently contributes from the Spalding bench, they are the called upon first to play significant minutes. In their very first high school game against St. Mary's of Annapolis, Chestnut and Epps each scored 10 points. Last week Calhoun led the team in scoring with 14 against Notre Dame.

The Spalding Cavaliers, having to play without any real size, play an up-tempo style of play, which is what the Bowie natives and Lady Cavaliers' freshmen are accustomed to playing. The girls played together on the fast-paced and talented Bowie-based Alana Beard's Future AAU team throughout the offseason, along with Bowie High School varsity freshmen Tyra Durret and Morgan Newbold, whose Lady Bulldogs' team is out to a 10-2 overall record and 9-0 in the county 4A league. The Spalding trio traveled to Florida, San Diego and Hampton, Va., to compete in nationally recognized AAU tournaments.

Calhoun is third on the Lady Cavaliers' team in rebounds (5.7 avg.) and second in blocked shots (1.0 avg.).

Early in the season the Lady Cavaliers were unknown and able to knock off some of the top teams in the area including Holy Cross, and now will have to adjust to playing with the No. 1 target on their back, playing in one of the state's toughest conferences.

The on-the-court performances from Chestnut, Epps and Calhoun have gotten the attention of several Division I coaches who, after approaching Spalding coach Bookie Rosemond, are surprised the girls are only freshmen.

"Going into this year, I knew what I was getting in terms of players and I expected immediate contributions from all of them, which they have delivered," said Rosemond. "They have made a huge impact on our program already. I am even more thrilled with them because they are even more impressive off the court as just wonderful, polite and respectful young ladies. I am so thankful to have such fine people in our program."

Calhoun, who stands 5 feet 10 inches tall, plays forward both inside and outside, recognized that the adjustment from Ogle to high school has not been the easiest transition. "High school girls are much stronger and you have to get used to pushing and fighting back for position," she said.

Epps, who runs the point and is the backup general on the floor, agreed that "the speed of the game is faster (at the high school level)".

Chestnut is the 3-point and defense specialist and noted the difference in the speed of the game from middle school to high school, saying "sometimes it's hard to get open shots."

Each of the three girls made the ESPN watch list for 2013 and they credit their coaches and older teammates for helping them get prepared for the tough high school schedule. With no seniors on this highly ranked team, the Lady Cavaliers are starting four juniors and a sophomore and players No. 6 through No. 8 off the bench are freshmen and expect to be very competitive for a while.

For information regarding the Archbishop Spalding girls basketball program, visit www.spaldinggirlsbasketball.com.

Maggie Morrison dictated an up-tempo offense with 17 points and five assists, and Archbishop Spalding's defense smothered Mercy for a 67-30 girls basketballl victory yesterday.

"We come into every game ready to play," said Morrison, who scored seven first-quarter points and had seven of the Cavaliers' 28 steals. "We beat them early in the season, but last year they gave us a run for our money. They're always a tough team to play."

Sherae Swinson added 12 points, and Camille Calhoun scored 11 and collected seven steals and six rebounds off the bench to keep the Magic (4-10) punchless.

Mercy took a 2-0 lead on Samantha Hruz's layup in the first minute, but the Cavaliers (14-2) scored the next eight points, and Morrison capped the 13-2 run on a 3-pointer in the corner and a steal and short jumper with 4:36 left.

The Cavaliers made sure they didn't make a habit of dropping Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference games, following Friday's 11-point loss to St. Frances.

"I didn't want to have a letdown because (Mercy) gives you fits," Archbishop Spalding coach Bookie Rosemond said. "The speed of the game was too much for them."

Hurtz had three of Mercy's 11 field goals and finished with 11 points and eight rebounds. Ava Trageser picked up eight points, seven steals and six rebounds, but it wasn't enough to avenge a 62-29 loss to the Cavaliers on Dec. 9.

Mercy failed to score more than nine points in a quarter and didn't hit a field goal for the first 6:53 of the second before Taylor Carter's short jumper cut the deficit to 33-14.

"They totally caught us off-guard," Magic coach Mary Ella Marion said. "We had been competing with everybody else in the A Conference. For some reason today, we just did not come to compete."

Archbishop Spalding closed the first quarter on an 8-0 run that Calhoun punctuated with a jumper in the lane to make it 21-8. Morrison and Shaquilla Curtis executed a give-and-go early in the second for a 19-point lead.

The Cavaliers, who received Curtis' 10 rebounds and seven points and eight from Brya Freeland and Raven Makins, pushed the lead to 31 at the end of the third. Mercy managed just two points - Hruz's late layup - over the final 4:02.

Torri Chestnut and Swinson bookended the 12-2, third-quarter run with pairs of free throws, and Freeland and Calhoun filled in the blanks for a 54-23 lead.

"The team helped me out," Calhoun said. "I was nervous at first because the last time we played, we didn't beat them by a lot. They were ready to play, kind of big and pushing me around. This time, I just fought back."

Morrison gave the Cavaliers a 41-point lead early in the first on a layup, and Chestnut did the same later with two free throws.

"They just did not show up to play today," Marion said. "We go back to work tomorrow. That's all we can do."

Tragesrer 3 2-2 8; Hruz 3 5-7 11; Wetzelberger 2 0-0 4; Moreland 0 0-0 0; Carter 2 0-0 4; Votta 0 0-0 0; McKay 1 0-0 2; Hierstetter 0 0-0 0; Scheve 0 0-2 0; Aikens 0 1-3 1; Oakey 0 0-0 0; McBee 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 11 8-14 30.

Freeland 3 2-4 8; Morrison 8(1) 0-0 17; Curtis 3 1-2 7; Swinson 5 2-2 12; Makins 4 0-0 8; Graziano 0 0-0 0; Calhoun 5 1-4 11; Chestnut 0 4-6 4; Griffith 0 0-1 0; Puller 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 28(1) 10-18 67.

Jan. 9--When Roland Park upset St. Frances on Dec. 11, Panthers senior Briana Hutchen was home with the flu. After she found out about the loss, she vowed to get well and stay that way.
Hutchen has been on the court for every one of the No. 3 Panthers' nine straight wins since then, including a stellar 26-point, 17-rebound performance in Friday night's 57-36 win at No. 1 Archbishop Spalding in an Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference game.
"Since [the loss to Roland Park], this fire has started to come into me," Hutchen said. "My team needs me and I'm going to make sure I don't get sick again this winter. I just knew that as a team unit, no one could beat us."
The Cavaliers, coming off a win over No. 2 Roland Park on Wednesday, had won 12 straight games and they pushed the Panthers (11-2, 5-1 conference) down to the final minutes.
Maggie Morrison's 15-footer capped a 6-0 run to open the fourth quarter, putting the Cavaliers (13-2, 5-1) on top, 41-40, with 4:49 to go. But the Panthers answered with a six-point run of their own on Chelsea Dukes' follow shot, Imani Kassama's layup and Shatyra Hawkes' pull-up jumper.
Camille Calhoun capped a three-point play to get the Cavaliers back to within 46-44, but Spalding then missed two shots and Hutchen grabbed the rebound off the second and fed Hawkes for a break-away layup and a 48-44 lead with 1:03 to go.
"I just remember thinking we've got to get a quick score," said Hutchen, "and, of course, Tyra was running down the floor. I saw her, so I passed the ball to her. I knew she would score."
After that, seniors Hutchen and Hawkes combined to hit nine of 11 free throws to seal the win.
For the Cavaliers, who have not beaten St. Frances since February 2002 when they went on to win the A Conference tournament championship, Morrison led the way with 14 points.
The Cavaliers' biggest lead was 13-5 after scoring 13 straight in the first quarter, but the Panthers rallied back to within 13-12 as Hutchen scored 11 of her points in the first quarter. To open the second half, she kicked the ball out to Kassama for a 3-pointer that gave the Panthers a lead they held until the fourth quarter.
"As you can see, they have some senior leadership that we don't," said Morrison, whose team has no seniors. "We rushed the ball a few times. We didn't work it on offense and run the play that we were supposed to. Granted, they're a very tough, high-intensity, very good defensive team. It's hard to score against them and the ball didn't roll our way tonight."
SF-Hawkes 13, Dukes 10, Hutchen 26, Harmon 4, Britt 4. Totals 20 14-18 57.
AS-Swinson 6, Curtis 9, Morrison 14, Calhoun 7, Freeland 2, Makins 4, Chestnut 2, Epps 2. Totals 18 10-19 46. Half: SF, 25-20.
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CENTREVILLE - The Severn High girls' basketball team claimed its second straight Queen Anne's Lady Lions Holiday Tournament title Wednesday night, the first team to repeat as outright tournament champion since the host Lions accomplished the feat in 1995 and 1996.

Broadneck shared the 1999 title with South River and won again in 2000 as the most recent back-to-back winner.
The Admirals' productive first quarter put Bishop Ireton in a hole it never escaped, as Severn held on for a 82-73 victory.

"I think that was important," said Admirals head coach Chuck Miller. "To me it was important because I wasn't sure how our kids would react to their style of play. I think once the kids realized that we can play this then I knew we would be okay. Whether we were going to be good enough to win or not, who knows, that's why we play, but it was a good game."

Severn's hot shooting helped build a 24-12 lead after the first quarter, but the Cardinals rallied in the second to bring the score to 43-37 at the half.

"Once we cut it to six at halftime I felt we were back in the game," said Bishop Ireton head coach Mike Hutton. "I thought our pressure would really get to them in the third quarter. They came out of the gate and scored four quick points to get it back to 10 and we had to work extra hard to try to whittle it down. Their conditioning was very impressive and they did not wilt. They cracked but they did not crumble."

The Admirals' transition game picked up in the second half, as Severn outscored Bishop Ireton 28-16 in the third quarter to open up a 67-53 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Bishop Ireton brought the game within single digits after a 9-0 run in the fourth quarter and made a trio of 3-pointers in the final period.

"They did a good job of pressuring us on the perimeter," said Hutton. "We saw zone the day before and got open looks, today they contested the shots on the perimeter and since they were guards they were able to pressure us off the dribble as well. Their defense was very solid and it really made us work for everything we got."

Tournament Most Valuable Player. Aura Payne led the Admirals with 23 points in the championship game, but was joined by four more teammates in double-digits.

Leah Cranmer accounted for 20 points, including 10 in the third quarter, while Liz Harbeson added 16 and Alexa Kunowsky and Raven Owens each added 10 points.

"I was proud of them, I thought they did good," Miller said. "We got the big lead, we gave it back. Then we were able to build it back up again and then we gave it back again. When push came to shove they're good kids, they work hard and they deserved to win."

The Cardinals put four players of their own in double-figures, led by Camille Weber's 13 points. Alexis Thurmond added 12 while Sarah Baldwin and Bianca Ojiegbe each scored 11 points.

Camille Calhoun, a 6-1 forward for the Alana Beard's Future is a double-double waiting to happen. She understands the nuisances of rebounding, from reading shot angles to body positioning to the mental focus required to be successful on the boards. Calhoun's rebound count was easily in high double figures in every game, including a 20-plus performance versus an older team. She can score from 10-to-12 feet with a pull-up jumper as well as from the low post and the short corner. Calhoun gets after it on every possession and when she is on the court she makes things happen. The transition to Archbishop Spaulding (MD) should be relatively smooth for a young player with her advanced basketball skill set. -story-

What Tasia Butler of Team Unique is doing already before entering the ninth grade is impressive enough. However, what she might do in the future with her club teammates and North Point High School (Md.) teammates is even more exciting to think about. The 5-11 wing has the physical tools to be the focus of many opponents' scouting reports. She has the speed and quickness to defend any spot on the perimeter. She can play at the front of the press or the top of a zone. That same speed gets her out in transition offensively and she moves effectively in half-court sets as well. The ability to create her own shot is coming and she already has a pull-up she can count on. Her jumper needs to be more consistent, but the form is already in place. Butler is one of those players with all the tools, who can be as good as she's willing to be.

Discuss this on our Message Board

Mark Lewis is a columnist and national evaluator for ESPN HoopGurlz. Twice ranked as one of the top 25 assistant coaches in the game by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, he has more than 20 years of college coaching experience at Memphis State, Cincinnati, Arizona State, Western Kentucky and, most recently, Washington State. He can be reached at mark@hoopgurlz.com.

14 Under Champs

The Bowie Boys and Girls Club 14U county basketball team hosted Upper Marlboro at Samuel Ogle Middle School for their final home game of the season. Ogle was the home of the county middle school championship and three of the members of the Samuel Ogle championship team - Camille Calhoun, Rebecca Bolinger and J-Seph Smith - play for the undefeated Bowie 14U team. After trailing 9-8, to Marlboro in the second quarter, Bowie went on a 6-0 run to take a 15-9 lead with 5:34 left to play. The game was another hard fought physical game as Bowie emerged with 34-17 victory, thus continuing their perfect season (10-0). Bowie was led by Calhoun with 17 points, Bolinger, Kaylor Anderson and Tyra Durrett each with four points, Serena Brown with three and Daida Ross with two. --click--

Grace Brethren girls capture state title

Fourth-quarter surge, Scaife's 27 points lift Eagles past Heritage Christian
by Ted Black | Staff Writer

The Grace Brethren Christian School girls' basketball team enjoyed a strong second half to pull away from Heritage Christian Academy to capture the Maryland Christian Schools Tournament championship at Washington Bible College in Lanham on Saturday evening.

One week after taking home the Potomac Valley Athletic Conference title, Grace Brethren (26-1) captured another crown by outscoring Heritage Christian (25-3), 37-17, in the second half, including 23-10 in the fourth quarter. The Eagles will seek a third tournament title this week when they head to Erie, Pa., for the National Christian Schools Athletic Alliance tournament.

"[Heritage Christian] was really scrappy and they played well in the first half," said Grace Brethren coach Jeff Perry. "We used a full-court defense in the third quarter and we started to get some points off turnovers. We were able to get up and down the court a lot better in the second half and we got more points in transition."

Grace Brethren eighth-grader Jade Scaife led all scorers with 27 points, including 7 of 8 from the foul line, while Andrea Jones added 22 points, including four three-point field goals en route to being named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.

Jones had 29 points and eight assists on Thursday night in the tournament semifinals as the Eagles knocked off Elkton Christian, 69-47. Jones, who is Grace Brethren's all-time leading scorer, surpassed the 2,000-point mark for her career during the Elkton game.

Youth movement leads Grace Brethren to title

Middle school players make difference as Eagles win PVAC

Feet set. Five dribbles. Spin the ball. Bend the knees. Shoot.

In order to force overtime and give her team a shot at its seventh Potomac Valley Athletic Conference title in eight years, Grace Brethren eighth-grader Jade Scaife (AB Future) had to hit both free throws with 12 seconds remaining in Saturday's championship game at Trinity University.

Scaife, one of the youngest members of Grace Brethren's girls' varsity basketball team at 13 years old, took her sweet time as a packed gymnasium hushed in anticipation. She went through the steps, and nailed each, tying the score and sending the Eagles into an overtime they would dominate. A team-high 21 points from tournament MVP Lynee Belton (DreamMakers) helped Grace Brethren to a 63-50 victory against Oakcrest of McLean, Va.

"We talk to these kids about focus all the time," said Grace Brethren coach Jeff Perry. "The other team played us well enough to win. We had to dig down deep for it."

After losing to Grace Brethren twice during the regular season, Oakcrest held the lead for the final 12 minutes of regulation until Scaife's free throws tied the game at 45-45. Oakcrest led by as many as 10 points in the fourth quarter until Grace Brethren's Belton, a seventh-grader, engineered a quick turnaround.

Belton scored nine of her 21 points in the fourth quarter and shot 11 of 15 from the foul line on the night.

"I have to thank my team for everything," Belton said. "Our coach [Jeff Perry]'s words turned it around for us in the end. He said that we didn't come all this way and work this hard for nothing."

Grace Brethren received a boost when Oakcrest's 6-foot-3 center Tori Jensen fouled out with two minutes left in regulation. The junior had dominated the boards and played a large part in holding the 6-foot Belton to five points in the first half.

Third-year Oakcrest coach Dionna Jordan said she was proud that her team made a game of it.

"I think we played with so much heart," Jordan said. "They were ready to play. When my center fouled out that made a huge difference as far as rebounding."

In his eight years as Grace Brethren's coach, Perry has won seven of eight conference championships and one Maryland Christian Schools title with a revolving roster. Many of his players have transferred to schools that compete in high-profile basketball conferences in the region. Last season, five players transferred to other schools, leaving Perry with two returning starters.

"Some of these girls are going to be big time players at other schools," Perry said. "We want to give them the foundation to be successful."

Bowie Rolls over Silver Hill

Grace Brethren captures PVAC crown

Eagles go overtime to beat Oakcrest in title game

The Grace Brethren School girls basketball team won the Potomac Valley Athletic Conference Championship for the seventh time in the past eight years, edging Oakcrest, 63-50, in overtime on Saturday night at Trinity University in the District.

After losing to Grace Brethren twice during the regular season, Oakcrest led for the final 12 minutes of regulation time until Grace Brethren eighth-grader Jade Scaife nailed consecutive free throws to tie the score at 45-45 with 12 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

Oakcrest led by as many as 10 points in the fourth quarter until Grace Brethren seventh-grader and tournament MVP Lynee' Belton engineered a quick turnaround. Belton scored nine of her team-high 21 points in the fourth quarter and shot 11 of 15 from the foul line.

"I have to thank my team for everything," Belton said. "Our coach [Jeff Perry]'s words turned it around for us in the end. He said that we didn't come all this way and work this hard for nothing."

Middle school students are allowed to play for varsity teams in the PVAC, a private school league. Grace Brethren (20-1) will move on to play in the Maryland Christian Schools Tournament against Chapelgate Christian, the only team the Eagles lost to this season.

-related story-

The Bowie Blade-News
Lady Bulldogs' JV team enjoying success beyond years
By TIM SPARKS
Published 02/19/09

Bowie High School girls junior varsity basketball coach Gregory Bacon speaks only in glowing terms about the squad he leads every day. Seeing the assortment of mostly ninth-graders, including one sophomore, gradually reach their potential provides plenty of pride for Bacon, who is in his second year with the Lady Bulldogs.
Unlike many coaches, Bacon knows his true purpose as the team's skipper. It's not to create a junior varsity dynasty at Bowie High, which, with Benjamin Tasker and Samuel Ogle middle schools right down the street, is in the center of a hotbed of eighth-grade basketball talent.
With so much player movement from year to year, creating a dynasty at the junior varsity level is more difficult than it may seem anyway.
Rather, Bacon stresses that his primary role is to prepare his players to become highly skilled and well-rounded Lady Bulldogs - on the varsity squad. Toss in a few life lessons that the girls can apply to their own lives and you have Bacon's recipe for success.
"When you see a kid that you work with in the gym after hours on their basketball skills be able to move forward," Bacon said, "and when they see a (grown) man like me cheering them on with tears in his eyes, it's a feeling that money can't buy. It's a blessing to be able to do what I do."
Despite having a somewhat modest 9-7 record, Bacon has been very pleased with the effort put forth by his lineup of players. He talks about their intensity and willingness to learn while putting in extra work to make themselves, and their teammates, better. He also talks about the improvement he has seen in the team since the beginning of the season, notwithstanding the presence of several obstacles along the way.
"These girls never quit," Bacon said. "We just played ... against (Charles H.) Flowers (High School) for the second time this year. The first time we played them, we suffered a 16-point loss. Since that game, we've lost one girl to the varsity team and another girl has been sick. Still, in (that) game, we went to overtime and lost by only one. ... We have a nucleus that has been very focused on the floor. They really push each other."
The man with whom Bacon perhaps works most in helping to harness and nurture the team's talent is the girls varsity coach at Bowie: Michael Hines. The pair works closely together in preparing their respective teams for competition. According to Bacon, the two men and their teams spend approximately 35 to 40 minutes together on game day - giving the junior varsity team an opportunity to observe the varsity team's pregame routine - before separating to face their own opponents.
It has been in moments like these that Bacon and Hines have formed a reputation for teaching the players firm basketball skills which have benefited the entire girls basketball program at the school.
"(Michael Hines) and I are definitely in sync," said Bacon. "We communicate probably six or seven days a week. We talk about basketball and strategy, but it's more than that. We also talk about the players' grades and how to prepare the girls for real life from junior varsity all the way through college. Instead of this being just a job that you do for a few months out of the year, it really is more of a 12-month process."
Bacon and Hines are indeed succeeding at helping to bring out scholastic excellence in their players. Bacon pointed out that the varsity team carries a collective 3.8 grade-point average and his junior varsity squad is not far behind at "right around 3.4 or 3.5." Such achievement in the classroom only adds to their overall performance as student-athletes.
Being the head coach of such an impressive group of young ladies makes Bacon feel like his role on the team is more of a rewarding "ministry" than a job. Thanks to his current group of apprentices, that feeling is not likely to fade any time soon.
"We've been competitive in just about every game," Bacon said. "We have a lot working in our favor because of the work ethic (the junior varsity) players have displayed in the summer, fall and preseason to get prepared for the regular season. We have a strong nucleus of girls from Samuel Ogle and Benjamin Tasker middle schools, and some girls are beginning to realize that they are getting the same, if not better, opportunities in public school than (they would have) in private school."

Audio Vault - John Feinstein discusses, AAU coaches influence on college recruiting.

Gazette News
Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009
by Rob Klemko
Grace Brethren continues to roll

Eagles win 18th straight conference game

Grace Brethren continued its Potomac Valley Athletic Conference dominance Tuesday night with its 18th straight conference victory this season, an 85-13 thumping of the McLean School.

Eighth-grade small forward Jade Scaife led Grace Brethren with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Junior Andrea Jones, the Eagles' all-time leading scorer, turned in 19 points and seven assists.

Just two players scored for McLean, the fourth and last seed in the PVAC North.

"I thought we played real well tonight," said Grace Brethren coach Jeff Perry. "I thought they ran the floor well, defense was good and they played the passing lanes well."

The top-seeded Eagles will face Jewish Day at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday at Grace Brethren.

"We're certainly not looking past anybody," said Perry, whose team defeated Jewish Day, 82-37, during the regular season.

McLean: Milder 11, Dowd 2.

Grace Brethren (21-1, 18-0): Andrea Jones 19, Raven Williams 4, Jade Scaife 20, Destiny Banks 10, Lynee' Belton 11, Shannon Bryant 2, Dominique Shaw 4, Lindsay Bethel 7, Jamila Bonner 6, Allison Lindsay 2.

Halftime score: Grace Brethren 43, McLean 9.

Bowie Blade-News
Picture This
Thursday, February 5, 2009

Prince George's County-North girls basketball all-stars defeated the East County all-star team, 72-42 Saturday at Charles H. Flowers High School. The game was the county's first All-Star game for middle school players and featured for of the best players Bowie has to offer. The North team was leady by Camille Calhoun (Samuel Ogle) with 25 points, Nikkia Wright (Benjamin Tasker) with 16, Aleah Epps (Ogle) with 15 and Torri Chestnut (Tasker) with 5. The team was led by Tasker coach Caroline Caronia. During the regular season Benjamin Tasker went undefeated and was led by Wright and Chestnut, while Samuel Ogle captured the county championship thanks to leadership by Calhoun and Epps. The girls, left to right, are Epps, Chestnut, Calhoun & Wright.
..more..

Bowie Blade-News
BBGC basketball
Thursday, February 5, 2009

The BBGC girls U14 county basketball team improved its record to 5-0 with an overtime victory over previously undefeated KLM. The girls were led by Camille Calhoun (16/points), Rebecca Bolinger (8/points) and Malika Lillard (8/points)

Posted Jan 30 2009 7:13PM

Washington, D.C. – Washington Mystics General Manger Angela Taylor announced today that the team had acquired Guard Lindsey Harding, Minnesota Lynx 2009 second round pick (23rd overall) and 2010 second round pick in exchange for Washington’s 2009 first round pick (ninth overall) and second round pick (15th overall).

"We are thrilled to add Lindsey Harding to the Mystics roster. She is a quality, starting point guard who has played at a high level her entire career. Lindsey has unmatched speed and loves to play in an up-tempo system,” said Taylor. “She will make an immediate impact in Washington by bringing solid leadership qualities and a desire to win a championship.”

Harding was the number one overall pick in the 2007 WNBA draft. She was considered the leading candidate for rookie of the year prior to suffering a torn ACL. She appeared in 20 games during her rookie season and recorded 11.7 points per game, 4.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game and was named to the WNBA’s All-Rookie team. Last season, Harding scored 6.8 points per game, 2.3 rebounds per game and 3.2 assists per game.

"I am really excited to be a part of the Mystics organization and am ready to contribute in any way I can. I look forward to this season and to helping the Mystics take that next step towards a championship," said Harding.

A graduate of Duke University, Harding earned various accolades including the 2007 Naismith Player of the Year, the 2006 and 2007 ACC Defensive Player of the Year and the 2007 Frances Pomeroy Award.

The Washington Mystics will tip off the 2009 season on Saturday, June 6th, on the road against the Connecticut Sun. Washington will host the club’s home opener on Sunday, June 7th, against the Atlanta Dream. Season tickets for the 2009 season are currently on sale and can be purchased by calling the Mystics Sales Office at 1-877-DC-HOOP1 or by visiting the Mystics web site at www.washingtonmystics.com.

The Washington Mystics organization is dedicated to providing affordable entertainment, serving as an impactful community partner and maintaining accessibility to positive female role models. Supported by passionate fans, the Mystics are elite, hardworking athletes continually striving to win a Championship.

Bowie Blade-News
B-Ball: Sam Ogle Style
Thursday, January 29, 2009

After losing to Gwynn Park in the 2008 championship game, the Samuel Ogle Lady Rams basketball team was determined to get back to the title game and win it in 2009.

With three of their starters returning - Aleah Epps, Camille Calhoun and Rebecca Bolinger - the Lady Rams were on a mission. The team was led by their first-year coach Colleen Moore.

Samuel Ogle won the 2008-'09 Prince George's County Middle School girls basketball title at Prince George's Community College, over Gwynn Park, a team that held the title for three consecutive years.

Epps drove through the lane with 6.5 seconds remaining in the game and scored the final points to take the 31-30 lead. Gwynn Park tried to advance the ball, but missed a shot as the game clock expired.

Ogle completed the season with a 16-1 record. In addition to winning this championship, the team won the Team Sol Holiday Tournament where Calhoun and Epps were voted to the Tournament All-Star team. The team's only loss came from neighborhood rival, Benjamin Tasker, in an overtime game.

With back-to-back championship game appearances, this eighth-grade class will be missed as they finished their middle school careers with a 31-3 record over the past two seasons.

Mystics player helps collect toys in Bowie

Alana Beard of the Washington Mystics was on hand at the Bowie City Gymnasium Dec. 22 to collect toys for the Holiday Sharing Toy Drive. The gifts donated were given to the Prince George's County Department of Social Services.

Six 13-year old Bowie girls were selected to participate in the Junior Phenom Camp held in San Diego, CA. and sponsored by Adidas. The camp ran from July 31 to August 3 and players participated by invitation.

Mystics star brings basketball to city of Bowie

There's a new wave of youth sports in Bowie.
Alana Beard, the former Duke basketball star who is now the starting guard for the Washington Mystics, formed an Amateur Athletic Union team for girls ages 12 and 13, and it's localized in Bowie.

The team - Alana Beard's Future - began play in late April in Potomac Valley Regional competition. Nikki Chestnut, the wife of the head coach and a volunteer helper with paperwork and logistics for the team, said that the team will soon become even more involved with the city of Bowie.

"Right now, we are trying to partner with (City of Bowie Gymnasium)," Chestnut said. "We are looking to have a holiday tournament and a toy drive (this winter)."

Chestnut also said that Beard wants to get the girls involved in charity organizations around Bowie and to support the city.

The idea to have an AAU team here began with team director Sarah Jenkins and head coach Keith Chestnut, who are both friends of Beard and who both reside in the Bowie area. These days Beard hopes to start more teams after the success shown by the 12-13 girls team. In the fall, there could possibly be two more teams for Alana Beard's Future, one for 11-year-old girls and one for girls ages 9 and under.

"(The 12- and 13-year-olds) are actually doing really well and we are going to the U.S. junior nationals sponsored by Nike," Chestnut said. "It will be held (tomorrow) through Monday at American University."

The team won its first two tournaments of its brief history before beginning Elite Summer League play in early July at Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville.

Beard, who moved to the area in 2004 when she was drafted by the Mystics with the second overall pick in the WNBA, leads the team in both assists per game and points per game, and she is second on the team in steals.

By Pat Ruff
Staff Writer
Saturday, July 12, 2008

Georgia Ice Wins AAU National 12U in Rochester, MN
GA-Georgia Ice 50, GA Pistols Gold 34

July 2008 in Rochester, MN held there AAU National Championship. Full Story..
Related Stories:
1. Rochester, MN welcomes AAU Nationals click here
2. Fairfax Stars win Classic Championship - results , Full Story
3. See 12 Under Championship bracket - click here
4. See 12 Under Classic bracket - click here
5. Finals rankings - click here

By Duane Calhoun
AB Future Staff Writer
Saturday, June 28, 2008

AB Future loses a close on
Norfolk Express 50, AB Future 48

June 26-27, 2008 in Hampton, Virginia. The AB Future playing in the “Nike Boo Williams grade based girls Basketball tournament". After going undefeated against all of their 7^th grade opponents in the tournament, the AB Future went into the championship game confident at 5-0 facing the 8^th grade champions Norfolk Express. After leading the 8^th grade champions Norfolk Express most of the game, the AB Future loses to a last second shot by the Norfolk Express team - Final 50-48.

By Kathy Orton
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, June 21, 2008; Page E03

Mystics Overturn Turnover Trouble in Win
Mystics 72, Dream 61

The Washington Mystics have the second-best field goal percentage in the WNBA. They lead the league in three-point field goal percentage. And yet, the Mystics are last in the WNBA in scoring, averaging a measly 68.4 points per game. No other team in the league is scoring less than 71 points.

What accounts for such a discrepancy? Turnovers. Washington's 18.8 giveaways per game rank third-worst in the WNBA.

Mystics Coach Tree Rollins is fully aware of his team's sloppiness. Before last night's game against the Atlanta Dream at Verizon Center, he wrote on the dry-erase board in the Washington locker room: "Take Care of the Rock!"

The Mystics ignored his plea, and their sloppiness nearly cost them. Washington overcame 15 first-half turnovers to defeat the Dream, 72-61, recording its first three-game winning streak since winning four in a row in August of last season.

Alana Beard scored all of her 18 points in the second half to lead Washington (5-7) to its largest margin of victory this season. Monique Currie added 17 points and eight rebounds.. Full Story

Gazette
Thursday, June 19, 2008

Dream Makers win tourney

The Dream Makers U-12 girls’ basketball team won the Charm City U-13 division of the Summer Explosion in Baltimore two weekends ago. Dream Makers held off the Pittsburgh Heat, 35-29, in the championship game, using clutch foul shooting late in the game to seal the win.

Jordan Maynard had four of her 10 points in the closing minutes. Valerie Melson had seven points and Taylor McCarley added six points. Marjani Lillard (five points), Maya Singleton (three points) and Lynee’ Belton and Savonna Murphy (two points each) also scored in the title game.

The Dream Makers blocked nine shots against the Heat, with two each from Melson, McCarley and Singleton. Laquel Lawyer also had a block and McCarley lead the team with three steals, while Maynard added two. Singleton led the Dream Makers on the boards with 11 rebounds, while Melson had six and Belton and McCarley each had five.

During pool play, the Dream Makers rolled past the Buccaneer Thunder, 51-10, and the New Jersey Extreme, 48-28. Lawyer had 13 points, five rebounds and four steals and McCarley added 10 points and three steals against the Thunder. Chelsea Scarborough also contributed with a point, a block and a steal. Singleton had 16 rebounds and Melson also reached double figures on the boards with 11.

Lawyer had nine points against the Extreme, with Melson and Erica McIntosh each adding eight points. The Dream Makers limited the Extreme to just one point in the second half, as they controlled play by amassing 45 rebounds. Singleton again led the way on the boards with 14, while Belton added seven and McCarley and Murphy each had six. Belton also added three blocked shots and Singleton had two.

AB Future one of 9 teams to secure slot at National

AB Future & Fairfax Stars secure 2 of the 9 slots D-1 qualifiers. more..

U12 Fairfax Stars Girls Gold Team Wins Super Regional over AB Future. Both teams Earns Invitation to 2008 AAU Nationals!

Fairfax Stars 12U Gold Team Takes The Gold At The Team Sol Super Regional And Earns Berth To The 2008 National Championship !!
The 12U Fairfax Stars girl’s team entered the Team Sol Super Regional this past weekend with high expectations. The team has been playing against 13 and 14 year old teams since early in the fall to prepare themselves to compete against the top tier of 12U teams. The Stars goal was not only the national bid available to them by reaching the championship of the tournament, but also to establish themselves as the top team in the region and bring home the gold medal! And bring home the gold they did, sweeping through the competition with a perfect 6-0 record and the tournament championship!!

The final two rounds would prove to be much different as the Stars would face much stiffer competition. First up, was the number one team out of the Maryland region, the Baltimore Ravens. The Stars put constant pressure on the Raven players from start to finish and jumped out to an 18 point lead that the Ravens were never quite able to recover from. The Stars regrouped after each push by the Ravens and were able to defeat their opponent 66-61 to earn their bid to nationals and a spot in the tournament championship.

The championship game would pit the Stars up against their long time rival and national powerhouse, Alana Beard’s Futures (formerly Team Excel). The Future’s, coming off two consecutive top ten finishes nationally, would prove to be a formidable foe. Once again however the Stars were ready to play and jumped out to a double digit lead that the Future’s simply could not overcome.
Realizing that the Future’s liked to play a fast paced full court game, the Stars concentrated on their half court zone pressure defense that would make the Futures play a walk up game….the tactic worked for the majority of the game until the Future’s picked up their full court pressure about half way through the second half and stormed back to within 2 points. The stars showed great character in weathering the storm and after a time out to regroup, came back out strong and pushed the lead back to 9 with their own transition offense kicking into full gear. From that point on, the Futures never made another serious push and the Stars had their gold medal and the early season bragging rights for the region. Full Story click here

Gazette
Thursday, April 10, 2008

County team win tournament titles

The Dream Makers U-12 girls’ basketball team clinched a berth in this summer’s AAU Division I National Tournament in Minnesota by winning the Super Regional in Hampton, Va.

After going 2-1 in pool play, the Dream Makers beat the Lady Neptunes, 50-23, in the semfinals and then knocked off the Norfolk Express, 57-50, in the title game. The Dream Makers rolled to a 33-14 halftime lead against the Express en route to the win. Taylor McCarley and Valerie Melson each had 13 points in the final, while Raquel Lawyer and Jordan Maynard each added seven points. Renee Kydd (six points), Marjani Lillard (five points), Lynee Belton (four points) and Erica McIntosh (two points) also scored in the title game. Lawyer and McCarley each had three assists and Lallard added two.
Belton led the way defensively with 10 rebounds and three blocked shots. Melson added nine rebounds. McCarley had six rebounds and two blocks. Maynard had four rebounds and a block. Kydd, Lawyer and Chelsea Scarborough also contributed on the boards and Lallard added two blocks.

Melson (11 points), Belton (nine points), Lawyer (eight points) and Kydd (seven points) led the way in the semifinal win against the Neptunes, while Savonna Murphy added two rebounds.

The Dream Makers opened the tournament with a 42-20 win against the Black Widows as Belton had 12 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots and Ryan Maynard had four of the team’s 10 assists.

The Dream Makers’ second pool game marked their only loss of the tournament, 47-43, against the Norfolk Express. Melson had 13 points and six rebounds and McCarley added four blocked shots. The squad bounced back with a 42-36 win in pool play against the Neptunes. Ryan Maynard hit key jumpers late in the game. Kydd led the way with nine points and McCarley contributed six of the team’s 17 steals and five of the Dream Makers’ 12 assists.

Mystics All-Star Beard Signs Four-Year Contract

Three-time all-star guard Alana Beard signed a four-year deal with the Washington Mystics yesterday.

Beard was fourth in the WNBA in both scoring (18.8 points per game) and steals (1.94) last season despite playing with a painful left shoulder. She had surgery in September to repair a torn labrum and plans to leave soon to play in Poland before the start of the Mystics' season in May.

The No. 2 overall pick from Duke in the 2004 draft has averaged 16.3 points during her four seasons in Washington.

Bowie Star
Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008

Gwynn Park, Just win middle school titles

The Gwynn Park Middle School girls and the Ernest Just Middle boys won county basketball championships at Prince George’s Community College on Saturday afternoon.
Ciara Washington scored 10 points to lead the Yellow Jackets, who captured their third consecutive title with a 32-23 win over Samuel Ogle Middle. The Rams were led by Aleah Epps’ 13 points.

Bowie Star
Thursday, Aug. 9, 2007

County hoops players perform well at Holland event -

Tori Chestnut, Aleah Epps, Raquel Lawyer, Valerie Melson and Courtney Young represented the county at the Youth Friendship Games July 20-30 in Holland. Melson and Young played for the Shockers that won the bronze medal, while Chestnut, Epps and Lawyer led Hoops Dreams to a fourth-place finish.
The United States teams had just three days of practice leading up to the event, playing against experienced international competition from England, Hungary, Ireland and the Netherlands among others,
Hoop Dreams (5-0) and Shockers (4-1) each advanced to the second round of competition competing in the same bracket with first- and second-place finishes, respectively. Hoop Dreams handed the Shockers their lone loss in that round, 24-21.

The two teams again met in the opening game of the second round, with Hoop Dreams rallying late to earn a 29-22 victory en route to gaining the third seed.

The Shockers were seeded fourth in the medal round. There, the Shockers finally bested their local rival with a 37-27 win, as Melson hit several key jump shots and clamped down on the Hoop Dreams’ best offensive player.

Gazette
Thursday, July 12, 2007

Team Excel medals at Nationals

The Maryland Team Excel U-11 girls’ basketball team finished seventh at the AAU Division I Nationals in Kenner, La. It was the team’s third national medal in as many seasons.

Lindsay Allen and Aleah Epps led Team Excel with clutch shooting and leadership. Breanna Bolden and Nicole Derrickson had strong defensive tournaments, while Tori Chestnut, Tasia Butler, Jade Scaife and Morgan Newbold chipped in with strong rebounding and timely shooting. De’Erricka Richardson and Tiara Wood also contributed. Team Excel is coached by Terrell Allen, Ricardo Durham, Richard Scaife, and managed by Wendy Derrickson.

Gazette
Thursday, March 8, 2007

Team Excel sweeps league

The Team Excel U-11 AAU girls’ basketball team won the Mid-Atlantic Girls National Basketball League Saturday after wins against the Beltway Cougars in the championship game and against the Main Event Cobras in the semifinals. Team Excel finished the season at 11-0.

Team Excel team members include Lindsay Allen, Brianna Bolden, Tasia Butler, Tori Chestnut, Nicole Derrickson, Aleah Epps, Morgan Newbold, De’Erricka Richardson, Jade Scaife, Chelsea Scarborough and Tiara Wood. The coaches are Terrell Allen, Ricardo Durham and Rick Scaife, and the team manager is Wendy Derrickson.

Bowie Star
Thursday, February 8, 2007

Bowie girls win fourth straight

The Bowie U-12 AAA girls’ basketball team won its fourth straight game, beating Fort Washington, 31-7. Bowie improved to 4-1 and will take on South Bowie (5-0) at 2 p.m. Saturday at Tasker Middle School.

Marjani Lillard, Malaika Lillard and Nicole Thomas led the way on defense for Bowie. Camille Calhoun, Rebecca Bolinger, Alyssa Patterson, Naja Westbrook, Morgan Johnson, Lissette Booty and Chenise Calhoun also made contributions in a balanced effort for Bowie.

Gazette
Thursday, January 25, 2007

U-12 Team Select wins

The U-12 Team Select girls’ basketball team improved to 4-1 by defeating the Maryland Waves, 38-20, on Sunday.

Kazzidy Stewart (17 points) scored all of Team Select’s first-half points en route to a 15-12 lead at the intermission. Valerie Melson added eight points for the game, followed by Jazmine Missouri and Marisa Coleman with five each, Nikkia Wright with two and Jasmine Munjo with one. Melson added a game-high 15 rebounds. Stewart had nine, Munjo eight and Missouri six.

Team Select beats Waves

The Team Select U-12 girls’ basketball team earned a 44-23 win against the Maryland Waves on Sunday.

Team Select built a 26-11 halftime lead behind solid shooting from Marisa Carroll and Nikkia Wright, who each had seven points in the first half. Auteanna Gilmore and Kazzidy Stewart had six and four points, respectively, in the second half. Carroll finished with 11 points, Wright and 10 and Gilmore added nine. Stewart and Valerie Melson had 11 and six points in the game.

Jessica Downing had 11 points for the Waves. Joycelyn Daniels and Courtney Lee each had four and Kenitra Alston and Nikita Mehta each added two. But the Team Select defense notched 19 steals and further limited the Waves’ offense with 31 rebounds, 10 for Stewart, nine for Melson and six for Breana Savoy.

Team Excel team win bronze

Team Excel’s U-10 girls’ basketball teams had strong showings at the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Nationals July in Orlando. Both the program’s A and B teams placed third in Division I and II, respectively.

Team Excel A swept through pool play, then defeated Illinois Raiders, Kentucky Shining Stars and South Bay Waves of California in bracket play to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. There, it lost to last year’s U-9 national champion Arizona Wildcats, before picking up two more wins to reach the semifinals against the Wildcats, who they lost to again.

Team A members include Lindsay Allen, Tasia Butler, Torri Chestnut, Nicole Derrickson, Aleah Epps, Alexis Lyers, Morgan Newbold, De’Erricka Richardson, Chelsea Scarborough, Jade Scaife and Tiara Wood. Terrell Allen coaches the team along with Marcus Lyers and Ricardo Durham. Wendy Derrickson is the team manager.

Team Excel wins medal

The Team Excel 9-and-under girls' basketball team recently placed seventh at the AAU National Championship Tournament at Indiana University-South Bend and earned a championship medal.

Team Excel emerged from pool play against three other state gold medalists with a 3-1 record, defeating teams from Georgia, Indiana and West Virginia.

Team Excel advanced through the championship bracket during a stretch of 10 games over five days where it beat teams from Indiana and Michigan before losing to eventual champion Arizona. Team Excel earned the Potomac Valley Region's top seed for the 2006 AAU Nationals.

Team Excel team members include Lindsay Allen, Tasia Butler, Torri Chestnut, Nicole Derrickson, Aleah Epps, Jasmine Jackson, Alexis Lyers, Morgan Newbold, De'Erricka Richardson, Jade Scaife, Chelsea Scarborough and Tiara Wood. The team is coached by Terrell Allen, Marcus Lyers and Ricardo Durham and managed by Wendy Derrickson.

12U AAA girls win

The 12U AAA girls continued their winning ways, knocking off Forestville 36-13. Michaela Gaddy led with seven points, as Bowie held the lead from wire to wire. Nikkia Wright and Rebecca Bolinger each scored six while Jayna Desai and Jordan Middlebrook contributed four apiece. Other scorers for Bowie included Marjani Lillard, with three, and Kathleen Senecal, Camille Calhoun and Kelsey LaTorre, all with two. Marisa Carroll, Morgan Davis and Michaela Monroe provided strong support in the win.

12U AAA girls beat Marlboro

The 12U AAA Bowie girls basketball team beat Marlboro 23-13 to improve to 6-2 in league play. Nikkia Wright, Kathleen Senecal, Kelsey LaTorre, Rebecca Bolinger, Marjani Lillard, Marisa Carroll, Camille Calhoun, Morgan Davis, Jayna Desai, Michaela Gaddy, Jordan Middlebrook and Michaela Monroe all played key roles in the victory. Desai's stellar shooting led the way for the girls.

12U girls push to 3-1

The 12U Bowie girls extended their record to 4-1 this week with a couple of strong performances. Following a hard-fought 11-9 victory over Marlboro, and a dominant 24-1 showing against Forestville, Bowie toughed one out against Silver Hill, 11-8, before falling to KLM, 19-13. While the squad fought back admirably in the fourth quarter with excellent passing, strong defense and an aggressive offensive attack, they could not dig themselves out of their early hole.

Nikkia Wright totaled 24 points for all four games, with Jordan Middlebrook adding 10, Marisa Carroll and Kathleen Senecal, seven, Morgan Davis, four, and Jayna Desai, Kelsey LaTorre, Marjani Lillard and Michaela Monroe adding two apiece.

Other key contributors included Michaela Gaddy, Rebecca Bolinger and Camille Calhoun.

Gazette
Thursday, May 5, 2005

Team Excel wins region title

The Team Excel U-9 AAU girls' basketball team won the gold medal at the Potomac Valley Regional Tournament and will head to the AAU National Tournament June 24-July 2 at South Bend, Ind.

Team Excel claimed the region championship with a 28-18 victory against the Fairfax (Va.) Lady Stars on Sunday at DuVal High School in Lanham. Team Excel notched a 39-14 victory in the semifinals against the Vogues and also went 3-0 in pool play, beating Team Sol (18-17), the Vogues (28-15) and the Fairfax Lady Stars (22-13).

Lindsay Allen was Team Excel's top scorer in the tournament with 54 total points. Aleah Epps added 26 points, while Torri Chestnut (16 points) and Nicole Derrickson (11 points) also contributed to the offense. Tiara Wood, Chelsea Scarborough, Jade Scaife and Jasmine Jackson led the way on the boards, and Morgan Newbold, Alexis Lyers and De'Erricka Richardson sparked the defense for coaches Terrell Allen, Marcus Lyers and Ricardo Durham.

U10 girls split pair

The Bowie U10 girl's AAA county team split two games last weekend. After a poor performance in a 14-9 loss to Silver Hill, Bowie recovered and played a solid game to earn a 15-3 win over Glenarden. Six of Bowie's nine players scored as Camille Calhoun and Nandi Howard both scored for the first time this season. Bowie improved their record to 8-2 overall.

South Bowie beats Forestville

The South Bowie girl's 10U AAA county team defeated Forestville 32-19. Jordan Maynard had a career high 16 points, Torri Chestnut and Morgan Newbold added six points apiece while Sarah Marting and Nicole Derrickson had two points each. The team improved their record to 7-2 overall.

Bowie girls win tourney

The Bowie U10 county girls won the Upper Marlboro Classic Championship last week as they dropped the first of four games to first-place KLM before going on to win three straight. The Bulldogs allowed just five points in the entire tournament and won the championship game 12-2. Marjani Lillard led the team in scoring throughout the tournament with 12 points. Nikkia Wright led the defense and scored seven points. The tournament's most valuable player award went to Jordan Middlebrooks who tallied eight points and led in rebounding. Camille Calhoun, Rebecca Bolinger, Samantha Locke, Megan Maloney, Christa Maley, Nandi Howard and Bethany Dziwura all contributed throughout the tournament.

South Bowie beats Glenarden

The SBBGC 10U AAA girls beat Glenarden 13-2. Torri Chesnut led the scoring with five points. Morgan Newbold and Nicole Derrickson added four points apiece. The defense was led by Alexis Newbold, De'Ericka Richardson, Ryan Maynard, Sarah Martin and Jordan Maynard. The team improved to 5-2 overall.

South Bowie U10 wins

South Bowie U10 AAA girls earned a 17-0 victory against Marlboro Team No. 2. Nicole Derrickson scored eight points, Torri Chestnut added five points, Alexis Newbold scored two points and Ryan Maynard and Alexis Newbold each added one point. South Bowie's record improved to 4-1.

Bowie downs Forestville

The U10 Bowie girl's county team defeated Forestville 16-0. Nikkia Wright led the scoring with 10 points. Megan Maloney scored her first points of the season and Jordan Middlebrooks added four points. The defense was led by Christa Manley, Alyssa Gressang, Rebecca Bolinger, Camille Calhoun, Marjani Lillard, Nandi Howard, Samantha Locke and Bethany Dziwura.

Bowie U10 AAA wins

The Bowie U10 AAA girls county team remained undefeated with an 11-7 win over Fort Washington. Samantha Locke and Nikkia Wright scored four points apiece. Marjani Lillard and Rebecca Bolinger also scored for Bowie. The defense was led by Megan Maloney, Camille Calhoun, Nandi Howard, Christa Manley and Bethany Dziwura.

Bowie Blade
Thursday, February 10, 2005

South Bowie wins

The South Bowie girls 10U AAA team defeated Oxon Hill 21-2. The leading scorer was Torri Chestnut with eight points. Nicole Derrickson and Morgan Newbold added six points each, Jordan Maynard, Sarah Martin and De'Erricka Richardson contributed on defense. The girls improved their record to 2-1.

With Loss, Mystics Turn to The Future

The Washington Mystics' season of the unexpected came to a less-than-surprising end on the road Wednesday night, when they lost the decisive third game of their WNBA playoffs series to the Connecticut Sun.

The mere fact that the Mystics made it that far was stunning. They did it with the player who had become the face of the franchise -- three-time all-star Chamique Holdsclaw -- on the injured list for the final month of the season. They did it with a rookie, first-round draft pick Alana Beard, and a first-year coach, Michael Adams, leading the way. And they did it on the strength of a late five-game winning streak that boosted them from last place to the playoffs.

Now the team could be facing something of an identity crisis.

For the past six years, the club has orbited around Holdsclaw, a former Olympian who averaged 19 points and 8.3 rebounds. Forced out of the lineup by a medical condition that she has declined to reveal, Holdsclaw's future with the club is unsettled.

There were reports earlier in the season of a rift between Holdsclaw and Adams. Franchise executives have already said publicly that Adams will be back next year, but neither they nor Holdsclaw's agent will comment on whether she plans to return.

"She's under contract," Adams said yesterday. "Other than that I have no comment."

To understand how big of a role Holdsclaw, 27, has played for Washington since 1999, consider that she holds the club records for scoring (2,960 points), rebounding (1,459), steals (221) and has played 162 games as a Mystic, second only to forward Murriel Page (225).

Many around the WNBA expected the Mystics to collapse when Holdsclaw left the team, but Beard thrived in her absence thanks to Adams's overhauled offensive system -- one built around finding open shooters and not solely around Holdsclaw.

Beard averaged 13 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1 blocked shot and was runner-up behind Diana Taurasi for WNBA rookie of the year. In the Mystics' 76-56 defeat Wednesday at Connecticut, Beard scored 22 points.

Asked if the Mystics could use a reliable secondary scoring option to Beard, Adams said "no." Whether that meant the team planned to bring Holdsclaw back is unclear. What is more certain, however, is that Beard and veteran forward Chasity Melvin established themselves as offensive threats.

Said Adams: "I think Alana and Chasity are players that can get it done for us."

Bowie U-10 team takes second

The Bowie Boys and Girls Club U-10 girls' basketball team finished its first season in second place with a 6-4 record. Jessica Shirley led Bowie in scoring, along with Michaela Monroe and Morgan Davis. Samantha Weaver and Nayo Shell were strong inside players, providing scoring, rebounding and defense.

Camille Calhoun, Rebecca Bolinger, Bethany Dziwura and Jasmine Moses all made significant contributions.

Bowie finished second behind a first-place Laurel team that went 10-0.

Daily Nebraskan.com
By: Darren Ivy
Staff writer
Posted: 11/12/98

New point guard takes center stage

Basketball recruiting can be called anything but an exact science. Nebraska point guard Joe Holmes might be the best example of that.
When Tyronn Lue made his decision to forego his senior season April 1, he left NU coaches searching for someone to fill his void at the point guard position.

At the top of Coach Danny Nee's list was Lamont Perry, a 6-foot-3 175-pound guard from Southwestern College in Chula Vista, Calif.

Nebraska supposedly was at the top of Perry's list too. He officially committed April 14.

But you've never heard of him. Perry never came here. His letter of intent was sent via the wrong mail system so the coaches never received it. Good-bye Lamont Perry.

Hello Joe Holmes.

Holmes, a 5-foot-11 guard, was seriously considering Norfolk State, South Carolina State or South Alabama.

That's before his teammate at Tyler (Texas) Community College hooked him up with an offer to play for Nebraska.

Rodney Fields, a 6-foot-3 guard, had already committed to Nebraska. When Lue left, Fields knew the Huskers would be looking for a true point guard.

"I put in the word to Coach (Jimmy) Williams," Fields said. "He evaluated Joe's game through me. Lue was a great player. I told him, 'Joe would fill his shoes in terms of being solid. He would play hard defense and make good passes.'"

Williams liked what he heard from Fields and what he saw on tapes. Holmes, who averaged 10.4 points and 8.1 assists per game his sophomore year, was now at the top of NU's list. Williams contacted Tyler Coach Kyle Keller and told him this.

Keller, who was a psychology major, always played mind games with his guys, Fields said, so Holmes never knew when to take him seriously.

When Keller asked Holmes if he would like to continue playing basketball with Fields, he instantly said he'd love to. But maybe it was another of Keller's games. Holmes didn't believe Keller when he said Williams was on the line.

"I said, 'Who is Coach Williams?'" Holmes said.

Holmes expected it to be a prank. When Nebraska Assistant Coach Jimmy Williams introduced himself, Holmes knew it wasn't a joke.

Holmes called Derrick Chandler, a former NU center, later that afternoon to ask him about the program. Chandler gave NU a positive endorsement. Holmes sent his letter. This time, the coaches got it.

"I was trying to find a situation just like this where I could step in and play," Holmes said.

Holmes was tired of bad experiences with college coaches. Coming out of Duval High School in Baltimore, Holmes had some college coaches talking to him, but nothing worked out. Holmes didn't enroll in college right away, taking a semester off.

During that time, he just played basketball. His AAU Coach, Harold Gates, landed him the tryout at Tyler.

"That's all I needed was that one chance," Holmes said. "Things happen for a reason. I kept the faith and knew that things would happen sooner or later."

When Holmes first arrived at Tyler, Fields said he never foresaw Holmes playing for a Division I school. But Holmes improved quickly.

"Joe has come a long way from the time I first played with him," Fields said. "He was hesitant in the things he did. He's matured in every aspect of his game. His decision making has improved and his whole level of play has risen."

Holmes said going to junior college was a blessing in disguise.

"Right out of high school, I wasn't ready for this," Holmes said. "Junior college matured me and got me ready."

Now, wearing a Husker uniform, Holmes is taking charge.

"I'm not here to be Tyronn Lue," Holmes said. "I'm here to be Joe Holmes. He did a lot of good things here. I'm here to run the show."

Holmes, who once was the coaches' second choice, has done just that as the starter.

In his first two games at the helm, Holmes has averaged 2.5 points, three assists and no turnovers per game. While the numbers may not be staggering, Holmes brings stability and consistency to the point. His savvy and coolness on the court have meshed well with the returning players.

"Once we went with the starting rotation two days ago, we've been executing the best since I've been here at Nebraska," said senior forward Andy Markowski. "People know their roles and shots they will take."

When people don't fulfill their roles, Holmes is not afraid to get on them. That attitude is what Nee likes and expects from Holmes.

"I want him to be the quarterback, the leader, the floor general," Nee said. "We want him to be an assist man. We don't need him to be a scorer."

Holmes said that's fine with him. He's just worried about improving each game and becoming more familiar with his teammates tendencies.

"All the (Tyler) players knew that if they ran the floor, I would find them," Holmes said. "I think guys are starting to realize that here. I really feel good about this team."

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