First, the biggie: the U19s beat Spain 69-46 to take the gold medal. WOOT!
Picture of the team waiting to get their gold medals.
Then there was DFW T-Jack's 58-36 Nike Nationals win over the Fairfax Stars. It was emotional for DFW, in the wake of losing team founder and mentor Marques Jackson last year.
Top performers.
Buttloads of pictures.
All-tournament team.
Oregon-based Team Concept, featuring USA Basketball gold medalist Mercedes Russell, won the EBX championship today.
On the Say No Classic LA tip, the championship game is set for next Saturday after today's semifinal games. It's a rematch of last year, as LA Spirit will face PHB.
To get there, PHB beat Winning 75-40. LA Spirit defeated Fastbreak 42-34.
In the quarterfinals, Winning (featuring USC freshman Ariya Crook-Williams) pulled off a stunner by beating Onye Ibekwe's team - 2K11 - that was stacked with Pac-10 players. 2K11 was coached by SC forward Briana Gilbreath today, as Ibekwe was absent.
Reggie Snell's LA Spirit team featured another incoming SC frosh, Alexyz Vaioletama, who looks like she's fully recovered from leg stress fractures that held her out of play her junior year.
When I get the results of the semifinals of The League competition, I will be posting them.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Hoopism is three years old today
Today is this blog's third birthday. Thank you to those who read, comment and re-post - I appreciate it.
It's all ball, all the time: high school, college, pro, club ball, youth/adult leagues. If you have an idea for a column, please hit me up: hoopism@yahoo.com. You can also follow me on twitter at: www.twitter.com/hoopism.
Thanks again for reading.
It's all ball, all the time: high school, college, pro, club ball, youth/adult leagues. If you have an idea for a column, please hit me up: hoopism@yahoo.com. You can also follow me on twitter at: www.twitter.com/hoopism.
Thanks again for reading.
About last night
Surprise: The Sparks won one on the road last night, beating the Sky 88-84. Offense was the key, and Delisha Milton-Jones was back on top, leading LA with 19 points.
No surprise: The Shock lost for the 12th consecutive time, to the Storm.
Club ball:
T-Jack and T-Flight collide.
Essence vs. Fairfax.
Follow all of today's game updates via: www.twitter.com/hoopgurlz. They've been doing an excellent job.
College:
If you're a Cal fan, check out this page.
No surprise: The Shock lost for the 12th consecutive time, to the Storm.
Club ball:
T-Jack and T-Flight collide.
Essence vs. Fairfax.
Follow all of today's game updates via: www.twitter.com/hoopgurlz. They've been doing an excellent job.
College:
If you're a Cal fan, check out this page.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
And MORE youngins!!
The US U19's defeated Brazil 82-66, and will move on to the gold medal game tomorrow, against Spain. Bria Hartley lead the way with 20 points; Stefanie Dolson chipped in 12; Cierra Burdick added 11; and Ariel Massengale put up 10. Brazil and Australia will face off for the bronze medal.
Nike Nationals: Wow, those are some loud uniforms West Coast Premier is wearing. Two of their star members - Lauren Holiday and Destiny King - insist on rolling their shorts while playing. Nooooooo! Lisa Leslie retired that awful fashion statement. For the love of God, don't bring it back to life.
NN brackets.
Tomorrow is the very last day of club ball for the class of 2012, ladies and gentlemen. Get out your tissues.
Nike Nationals: Wow, those are some loud uniforms West Coast Premier is wearing. Two of their star members - Lauren Holiday and Destiny King - insist on rolling their shorts while playing. Nooooooo! Lisa Leslie retired that awful fashion statement. For the love of God, don't bring it back to life.
NN brackets.
Tomorrow is the very last day of club ball for the class of 2012, ladies and gentlemen. Get out your tissues.
Youngins in the news
USA Basketball:
The U19 women came from behind to beat France, 70-64 in the quarterfinal round yesterday. Breanna Stewart lead the way with 21 points. The team advances to the semis tonight, and will face Brazil.
In the meantime, Canada has been eliminated.
Club ball:
Nike Nationals day two top performers.
Portland-based Team Concept smashed opponents at the recent Las Vegas tournament, reports an Oregon news source. Team Concept features the Fab Four of Mercedes Russell, Kallee Johnson, Jordan Reynolds and Jamie Nared. (Hey, did you catch the part where Pat Summitt has offered Russell?)
This week Team Concept has been in the EBX tournament in Berkeley, where they again blew out opponents to advance to a winning round today. Yesterday Russell had 26 points and 15 rebounds in one game.
A Maryland product, Bri Jones, has been catching ESPN's eyes.
Moriah Jefferson is having a great summer playing for DFW T-Jack Elite.
Bonus pro news:
Nice piece on Connecticut's Kara Lawson - a vet who is aging extremely well.
The Shock's coaching change has not resulted in a change of their record.
The Shock wants to avoid the "epic fail" list.
Shannon Bobbitt's buzzer-beater lifted Indiana over Washington last night, 61-59. In the Fever's previous game this week, the pint-sized point guard had 13 points. The misery continues for the Mystics.
Sad news: Silver Stars rookie Danielle Adams, who has been having such a brilliant season, has sustained a mid-foot sprain. She'll be out 4-6 weeks.
The U19 women came from behind to beat France, 70-64 in the quarterfinal round yesterday. Breanna Stewart lead the way with 21 points. The team advances to the semis tonight, and will face Brazil.
In the meantime, Canada has been eliminated.
Club ball:
Nike Nationals day two top performers.
Portland-based Team Concept smashed opponents at the recent Las Vegas tournament, reports an Oregon news source. Team Concept features the Fab Four of Mercedes Russell, Kallee Johnson, Jordan Reynolds and Jamie Nared. (Hey, did you catch the part where Pat Summitt has offered Russell?)
This week Team Concept has been in the EBX tournament in Berkeley, where they again blew out opponents to advance to a winning round today. Yesterday Russell had 26 points and 15 rebounds in one game.
A Maryland product, Bri Jones, has been catching ESPN's eyes.
Moriah Jefferson is having a great summer playing for DFW T-Jack Elite.
Bonus pro news:
Nice piece on Connecticut's Kara Lawson - a vet who is aging extremely well.
The Shock's coaching change has not resulted in a change of their record.
The Shock wants to avoid the "epic fail" list.
Shannon Bobbitt's buzzer-beater lifted Indiana over Washington last night, 61-59. In the Fever's previous game this week, the pint-sized point guard had 13 points. The misery continues for the Mystics.
Sad news: Silver Stars rookie Danielle Adams, who has been having such a brilliant season, has sustained a mid-foot sprain. She'll be out 4-6 weeks.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Two items to start the day
Now this is some courage: Ieshia Small is playing her heart out despite enormous personal tragedy this year. Bless her heart.
Shaq is back: Shaquala Williams has taken a high school coaching job in Portland.
Shaq is back: Shaquala Williams has taken a high school coaching job in Portland.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
What's up with the Sparks?
OK, I'll pose the question: what's up with the Sparks?
They lost their fourth consecutive game tonight, to the Dream, 89-80. They're 6-10 (2-8 away), and won't make the playoffs if they keep this up. Here's what two Sparks had to say about tonight's game:
"We played well for about 23 seconds, but (Angel McCoughtry) hit some pretty big shots at the (shot-clock) buzzer," Sparks center Tina Thompson said.
"We played better, but it still was not enough," Sparks guard Ticha Penicheiro said. "We still have to figure out a way to win basketball games. We're still not rebounding well."
And I guess I put a curse on Delisha Milton-Jones with my recent blog about her, because she went scoreless for the second straight game tonight, after playing a season-low 13 minutes. She sat on the bench during the fourth quarter.
So what's going on? Even non-fans of the team are wondering.
The Sparks started off the season on fire. In post-game interviews after those first few games, they all gushed about the chemistry they had found.
Then Candace Parker was injured June 26. Out for six weeks. The Sparks lost that game and have been 2-7 since.
I just posted the "what's up" question on the Sparks board. The first respondent said the team has no depth as a result of poor trades, acquisitions and drafts for the last few years. That Parker has been carrying the team since the departure of Lisa Leslie in 2009.
I don't know if I buy that. LA has some nice reserves in Jenna O'Hea, Ebony Hoffman and Jantel Lavender. In fact, one could argue that at least two of the teams at the top of the two conferences lack depth, too. In other words, the Sparks aren't any worse than several of the top teams.
Nor would I necessarily buy the explanation that the team is missing Candace Parker. Sure, she is arguably their best player, and her contributions are missed. But how could a team that was crackling with the electricity of togetherness less than two months ago just fall completely apart with the loss of one?
Of course we won't know what's really up unless someone on the team or the staff close to the team says something. We're not on the team so we don't know. But many are praying and sending spirit fingers that they work it out - whatever the problem is.
They lost their fourth consecutive game tonight, to the Dream, 89-80. They're 6-10 (2-8 away), and won't make the playoffs if they keep this up. Here's what two Sparks had to say about tonight's game:
"We played well for about 23 seconds, but (Angel McCoughtry) hit some pretty big shots at the (shot-clock) buzzer," Sparks center Tina Thompson said.
"We played better, but it still was not enough," Sparks guard Ticha Penicheiro said. "We still have to figure out a way to win basketball games. We're still not rebounding well."
And I guess I put a curse on Delisha Milton-Jones with my recent blog about her, because she went scoreless for the second straight game tonight, after playing a season-low 13 minutes. She sat on the bench during the fourth quarter.
So what's going on? Even non-fans of the team are wondering.
The Sparks started off the season on fire. In post-game interviews after those first few games, they all gushed about the chemistry they had found.
Then Candace Parker was injured June 26. Out for six weeks. The Sparks lost that game and have been 2-7 since.
I just posted the "what's up" question on the Sparks board. The first respondent said the team has no depth as a result of poor trades, acquisitions and drafts for the last few years. That Parker has been carrying the team since the departure of Lisa Leslie in 2009.
I don't know if I buy that. LA has some nice reserves in Jenna O'Hea, Ebony Hoffman and Jantel Lavender. In fact, one could argue that at least two of the teams at the top of the two conferences lack depth, too. In other words, the Sparks aren't any worse than several of the top teams.
Nor would I necessarily buy the explanation that the team is missing Candace Parker. Sure, she is arguably their best player, and her contributions are missed. But how could a team that was crackling with the electricity of togetherness less than two months ago just fall completely apart with the loss of one?
Of course we won't know what's really up unless someone on the team or the staff close to the team says something. We're not on the team so we don't know. But many are praying and sending spirit fingers that they work it out - whatever the problem is.
"Rebuilding project"?
After months of silence, finally this from the University of Virginia on Joanne Boyle and her new staff. It almost seems like they're trying to compensate for the absence of information by making this piece a little long.
I object to the use of the term "rebuilding" to describe the UVa program. They've been to the Tournament as recently as 2009, and produced Monica Wright. One could argue that they needed a boost, but not a full rebuild.
Rumors have circulated that former longtime coach Debbie Ryan was pushed out. Others speculated that Boyle left Cal because her mojo was running out there, and her coaching abilities were questioned.
I don't know about any of that, but I'll be interested to watch Virginia this year.
Bonus:
ESPN has the top performers of the opening day of Nike Nationals.
I object to the use of the term "rebuilding" to describe the UVa program. They've been to the Tournament as recently as 2009, and produced Monica Wright. One could argue that they needed a boost, but not a full rebuild.
Rumors have circulated that former longtime coach Debbie Ryan was pushed out. Others speculated that Boyle left Cal because her mojo was running out there, and her coaching abilities were questioned.
I don't know about any of that, but I'll be interested to watch Virginia this year.
Bonus:
ESPN has the top performers of the opening day of Nike Nationals.
Pac 12 channels, and more
The Pac-12 has created Pac-12 Networks, which will feature seven channels that will broadcast games, games and more games. How bangin.
Other college:
Stars just keep shining brighter: Florida State University Coach Sue Semrau is the new vice president of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.
Former Utah coach Elaine Elliott is now an assistant at Westminster.
Most likely not coincidentally, Amy Krommenhoek will transfer from Utah to Westminster.
In other transfer news, Pacific center Danielle Peacon, who garnered all-freshmen conference honors last year, will transfer to Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, CA.
Club ball:
ESPN's first glance at the Nike Nationals, which began this morning.
WNBA:
Australian Liz Cambage, playing for the beleaguered Shock in her rookie season, is choking on her team's losses.
Her former teammate Marion Jones would love to return to the WNBA (she was cut last week).
San Antonio rookie standout Danielle Adams is working overtime.
Other college:
Stars just keep shining brighter: Florida State University Coach Sue Semrau is the new vice president of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.
Former Utah coach Elaine Elliott is now an assistant at Westminster.
Most likely not coincidentally, Amy Krommenhoek will transfer from Utah to Westminster.
In other transfer news, Pacific center Danielle Peacon, who garnered all-freshmen conference honors last year, will transfer to Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, CA.
Club ball:
ESPN's first glance at the Nike Nationals, which began this morning.
WNBA:
Australian Liz Cambage, playing for the beleaguered Shock in her rookie season, is choking on her team's losses.
Her former teammate Marion Jones would love to return to the WNBA (she was cut last week).
San Antonio rookie standout Danielle Adams is working overtime.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
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