REPUTATIONS BUILT AT 2012 GymRat CHALLENGE

By STEVE AMEDIO

GymRat CHALLENGE Director of Communications

ALBANY, NY – The biggest GymRat CHALLENGE AAU girls’ basketball field in the event’s eight-year history produced some of the most hotly contested games played by some of the best players ever to come to New York State’s Capital Region for the annual gathering of the sport’s future stars.

Tight games? How about the 16-under division where event champion Ring City Elite needed some late-game heroics to earn a four-point victory over a determined Virginia Cardinal Elite squad that had survived three games decided on the final possession just to get to the title contest.

Or, how about at the 14-under level where it took a last-second shot by division MVG (Most Valuable GymRat) Morgan Bartner to lift the Garden State Sharpshooters to a one-point victory.

The championship games at the other levels weren’t quite as tight, but games were competitive throughout almost the entirety of the event.

And, the GymRat once again upheld its already well-established reputation as the place where reputations are earned, established, upheld, or exposed.

As always, it was a place to come to watch at any of this year’s five venues and catch the sport’s rising stars, and there were plenty of them.

Start with 16-under division MVG Taylor Rooks, a 6-1 wing who played up a level and exhibited a combination of talent and on- and off-court smarts that has the likes of Stanford University showing early interest. And, she wasn’t alone. Her Ring City team had at least seven players drawing interest from Division I programs.

The division was so strong this year that even Amani Tatum, a talented 5-6 point guard who is being recruited at the highest level and was the GymRat’s 2011 MVG, couldn’t get her squad to this year’s championship game.

The MVG of the 15-under level was Lauren Brozowski, whose nickname of “Boogie” was earned on the playgrounds of Long Island for her resemblance to a male playground standout of another era.

And, then, there was Morgan Belanger, an athletic 6-foot-2 forward from the CAS Panthers’ squad who the event’s talent evaluation staff identified as one of the best players in the tournament and capable of playing just about anywhere on the next level.

The 14-under division featured a terrific head-to-head confrontation of a pair of gifted and versatile front-court players with the 6-foot-1 Bartner’s shot giving her Sharpshooters’ team a one-point victory over a Bay State Magic squad that featured multi-talented 6-2 point forward Bridget Herlihy.

And although the 13-under division’s stars have just begun to shine, there is evidence that several players from that level will have extremely bright futures.

The Bay State Jaguars’ division-winning team featured diminutive, but highly effective point guard Katie Benzan, whose play was reminiscent of her mother, Kim’s of 25 years ago when she played the position as a team captain at Holy Cross.

And, there was much talent that didn’t advance to the title game, including arguably the best backcourt in the division. That designation surely went to the guard tandem of the CJ Cardinals of Mataway, N.J. whose roster included precocious sixth-grade sensation 5-3 Jahsyni Knight and 5-10 Sydney Morang. Both Knight and Morang flashed skills rarely seen in such young players and each certainly became players to watch as they continue to develop.

How about surprises? There were a few. Topping that list and wearing the 2012 glass slipper were the 16U Lake Champlain Lakers (Plattsburgh, NY) who made big noise early in pool play that continued to echo through to the Elite Eight of the Championship Round. Since 1998, the Lakers organization has sent multiple teams trekking from just south of the Canadian border to the GymRat CHALLENGE. The 2012 version of the ladies from the City on the Lake became the first team in any Age Division from the Lake Champlain organization to advance beyond pool play. Knocking off New York City’s highly touted CAS Panthers in the opening game of pool play proved to be no fluke, as the Lakers went unscathed through pool play and marched through the first two stanzas of Championship Round play before the Connecticut Storm rang the midnight alarm.

Led by 6’4” fourteen year old phenom Shannon Ryan who has already caught the attention of Big East coaching staffs, and the three-headed backcourt monster of Marle Curle, Mary Mazzella, and Meghan Strong, the Lady Lakers proved that it doesn’t matter where you come from, it only matters what you DO when you arrive at the GymRat CHALLENGE.

And, they and numerous others continued to confirm that the annual GymRat CHALLENGE AAU event is the place where reputations are EARNED.

16:U AGE DIVISON

TALENT, TEAM PLAY CARRY RING CITY TO GymRat TITLE

ALBANY, N.Y. — With a 10-point lead midway through the second half of its 16-under division’s championship game of the GymRat CHALLENGE, the Ring City Nike Elite team looked to have things well in hand.

And then came a reminder that a battle-hardened opponent can never be taken for granted.

The Cardinal Elite team from Springfield, Va., came storming back to get within a point with 23 seconds remaining and that should have come as no surprise as that squad survived three previous games that had been decided by three points or less on its way to the title contest.

The winners, though, remained calm and poised and held off the Cardinal Elite’s late threat, clinching things when Jade Walker-Johnson, a 6-foot-2 forward, grabbed a rebound and converted a put-back basket of a teammate’s missed free throw for the final points of Ring City’s 50-46 win Sunday evening at the University at Albany’s SEFCU Arena.

Age Division MVG (Most Valuable GymRat) Taylor Rooks, a multi-talented 6-foot-1 guard/forward, led the winners with a game-high 18 points in the championship game, including two free throws with about a minute remaining that helped hold off Cardinal Elite.

On its way to the championship contest Ring City showed it had plenty of talent, winning all six of its games prior to the finals by no less than 21 points.

And then the champs also showed the necessary measure of team-oriented play and grittiness while holding off Cardinal Elite’s late-game charge in one of the most-riveting title-contest confrontations in the GymRat’s eight seasons of girls’ play.

“There’s no doubt our program is jam-packed with talent,” said Ring City coach John Blackgrove, about his team that includes no fewer than seven legitimate Division I college prospects.

“But the most important thing is that that they believe in each other and that they share the ball. The girls don’t care who gets the points in any game. They just want to win, and when they come to play with that attitude they can play with any AAU team in the country.”

Indeed, and even though Rooks, the event’s MVG who is getting looks from this year’s NCAA tournament runner-up Stanford among others, had the high point total in the championship game, she only had four points in the last seven minutes of play and the team did not run specific plays to get her the ball.

“This team will do anything to win games,” said Rooks. “Everyone is just so unselfish. I might have won the MVG, but it’s a team award to me. We’re all here for one reason and that’s to win championships. We played a very good team (Cardinal Elite) in the championship game and they never stopped fighting.

“But that’s the way we are, too. We never give up. When they got close to us at the end, we knew we had to make a big play and anyone one of us could have done it.”

Cardinal Elite coach Stan King agreed.

“They’re a talented team that really played well in this tournament,” he said, about the Ring City squad.

“But, we are absolutely proud of our effort here, too. We had a very difficult road just to get to the championship game. We had a big deficit in the finals and we fought back. We just couldn’t quite get over the hump, but we’re proud of what we accomplished here.”

16:U ALL-GymRat CHALLENGE MVG – MOST VALUABLE GymRat

Taylor Rooks (6-1 guard/forward) Ring City Elite/Gill St. Bernard H.S.: A smart player who brings it on each and every possession. Knows how to run the lane and runs them hard. One of the best here at finishing with contact. Knows how to use her size. Can hit the 15-to-17 footer consistently. Excellent ball-handler for size. Versatile, stat-line filler. She scores, rebounds, passes, blocks shots and gets steals. Only 15, playing up a level here. Made some big plays down the stretch of the championship game. Just has a great feel for the game, and the ability to back it up. Hearing from Stanford, Harvard, Princeton, Georgetown, Syracuse.

16:U ALL-GymRat CHALLENGE TEAM

Ciara Rosten (6-1 C/F) NY Revolution National/St. Mary’s: Carves out space on the clock and has a good touch around the basket. Nice hands and can catch in traffic. Can also put the ball on the floor to create shots. Solid rebounder and always trying to block shots. Needs to run the floor better and go hard all the time. Getting looks from several MAAC schools.

Allison Stoddard (5-7 PG) CT Storm/East Lyme H.S.: Smooth point guard who has great body control going to the basket. She makes very good decisions at the point. Possesses terrific court awareness and delivers good passes to open teammates. Defensively she reads the passing lanes well and gets her share of steals/deflections.

Leki Martins (6-1 G/F) Hudson Valley Elite/Irvington H.S.: A high-level player with the ability to score in many ways. She can stroke the three, but would rather go to the basket. Plays hard at both ends of the floor without taking a play off. Her length on defense creates havoc for opponents. A terrific rebounder. Has 35 offers and strongly involved with Loyola, St. Bona’s, Lehigh, Quinnipiac.

Maeve Parahus (6-1 SG) Hudson Valley Elite/Albertus Magnus H.S.: Long, lean frame who shoots lights out. Has terrific range and consistency on three-point shot. Made six treys in one game here. Knows how to be set when receiving the ball. Not overly quick on defense, but has length that causes problems for opponents. Has given a verbal to Manhattan.

Anna Ross (5-9 PG) Unity Wildcats-Mannion/Westhill H.S.: Potentially a high-level player with an abundance of athleticism and natural ability. She never takes a play off and is a great leader. Exceptional court vision, but sometimes is too unselfish. Can get to the basket at will and finishes well with contact. After July she should get big-time looks, although she needs to work on mid-range game. Interest from Syracuse, Siena, St. Bona’s, Canisius, Niagara and Marist.

Sydnie Rosales (5-9 SG) Saratoga Sparks/Colonie H.S.: Shooter, shooter, shooter. She has big-time range on her three. Will also attack the rim. Possesses great court vision and never gets rattled on the floor. If given the opportunity, she wants the ball in the clutch and will deliver. Needs to work on mid-range game and, then, will be complete. Leaning toward Central Connecticut, Sacred Heart, Hartford.

Kayla Burton (5-7 PG) Baystate Jaguars/Newton South H.S.: Crafty point guard with terrific leadership skills. Shoots the three well and has great moves to the basket. Makes her teammates better with her passing skills. Needs to limit turnovers, but overall an outstanding player. Interest coming from Lehigh, Vermont, Quinnipiac and Elon.

Shannon Ryan (6-4 C) Lake Champlain Lakers/Beekmantown Central H.S.: A big player who finishes well with both hands. Played here last year and has improved significantly since then. Growing into her body. Moves around the court well for her size. Uses her length to be a good rebounder and shot-blocker. Only 14 years old. HUGE upside.

Jennifer Berkowitz (6-2 C) Bay State Jaguars/Rivers H.S.: A physical post player who likes contract. She uses an aggressive style of play on the offensive end to draw fouls. Also, a very aggressive rebounder. She can also hit the mid-range jump shot.

Maia Hood (5-11 wing) West Chester Hoopers/Alexander Hamilton H.S.: A player who is explosive getting to the rim. She has very good hands. Catches everything, even on the run in transition. Good enough size that she can post up and plays well with her back to the basket. Some interest from Auburn, Georgetown and Hofstra.

Tiffany Corselli (5-7 PG) Westchester Hoopers/Sacred Heart H.S.: Very quick player with a nice, solid handle. She distributes the ball well, sees the floor and makes good passes to open teammates. Showed a good mid-range game here. Not afraid to take a charge on the defensive end. Has heard from Siena, Rider, St. Francis (N.Y), St. Francis (Pa.).

Katie Varieka (5-11 wing) New England Crusaders Black/Tabor Academy: She has a quick cross-over dribble. Plays with a bounce in her step. A lanky athlete who can step out and shoot the three. She gets her hands on just about everything when on defense. Very good court IQ. Hearing from several Ivy League and Patriot League schools.

Morgan Lamb (5-8 PG/wing) VBC/North Andover H.S.: A great shooter out to beyond the stripe. Very active on-ball defender. She has the ability to pull up off screens for good shot. Good ball-handler. Works well in the middle of the press and gets more than her share of steals. Very intense, hard-working and smart. Hearing from several America East schools.

Marle Curle (5-8 PG) Lake Champlain Lakers/Plattsburgh H.S.: Gutsy and athletic point guard with competitive mean streak. Good mid-range game and ability to penetrate and finish offensively. Tenacious defender who uses athletic ability, strength, and competitive fire to wear opponents down. Athletic ability complimented nicely by solid basketball IQ and DNA—Dad is Head Men’s Coach at Plattsburgh State. Getting much DII interest.

Shivell Butler (5-4 PG) CAS Panthers/Beacon H.S.: A great ball-handler. She can create offense both for herself and for others. One of the best passers here. Showed a nice mid-range game. An intense player who never takes a play off. Strong and physical and uses those physical skills well on the defensive end. Very good on-ball defender.

Lauren Williams (5-8 G) Basketball Results/St. John The Baptist H.S.: A pure scorer. Uses quickness and athleticism to her advantage. Great handle and has the ability to dribble out of traps with ease. She can draw and dish, creating shots for others. Also a very good on-the-ball defender. Likely to here from mid-major D-I schools.

Alex Pavalto (6-4 C) Basketball Results/Wantagh H.S.: Has very good hands. Seals position in the post and, then, can catch just about anything thrown to her. Once she gets the ball, she has a nice hook shot. Runs the floor well for her height. Lefty shooter who showed the ability to make shots from 10-to-12 foot range.

Aminah Farmer (5-7 wing) Philly Triple Threat-Taylor/Cardinal O’Hara H.S.: A real athletic scorer, who uses her athleticism to create points in a number of ways. Primarily extremely effective on transition, running the floor to catch and score, or to slash past defenders and get to the basket with the ball in her hands. But, also makes good passes. Sees the floor well.

Morgan Roessler (5-9 Wing) Lightning-Pavinelli/Massapequa H.S.: A lanky wing player who is very active on the defensive end. Uses that length to block her share of shots. Also showed shooting range beyond the stripe. Gets her hands on her share of rebounds. Showed good pull-up jumper. Nice spring to her game.

Koryn Lawrence (5-7 PG) Ring City/JFK H.S.: A point guard who can really handle the ball but contribute with her own offense, as well. Creates shots for teammates, yet can also shoot out to three-point territory. Real athletic player. Rebounds well or her size. Explosive quickness. Dribbles through presses with ease.

Dominique Ward (5-11 wing) Ring City/Trenton Catholic H.S.: A great athlete who has the ability to get to the basket and finish with either hand. She can create offense for herself and explodes to the rim. Extremely good jumping ability, which makes her a standout rebounder. Also very active on defense. Hearing from Delaware, St. John’s and Siena.

Briana Logan (5-6 PG) Philly Triple Threat-Taylor/Rancocas Valley H.S.: Very quick point guard. She also can hit the three with regularity. Has quick hands that produce steals on the defensive end. Strong in transition and effectively leads the break. Controls games with the ball in her hands. Can really break down a defense. A-10 interest, particularly Richmond.

Jennifer Shelp (5-8 P) Team BX/Vestal H.S.: An excellent floor general. She sees the floor and finds the open player. Offensive she does a great job of creating her own shot and can also drive to the basket. Very aggressive and quick on the defensive end. Only a rising junior, she played up a level and still had success here.

Jazmine Collins (5-9 PG) Mass Frenzy-Black/Sabis H.S.: An extremely quick point guard who uses that physical skill to great advantage. She has quick moves to get past defenders and get to the basket. Excellent ball-handler. Good leader. Good on the defensive end, too. Hearing from UMass, Boston Univ., Providence and some Ivy League schools.

Kyan Procter (5-6 PG) Team Sol 16 Elite/C.H. Flowers H.S.: A real team-oriented floor general. She gets everyone involved. A very unselfish player. Has versatile offensive skills. Great pull-up jump-shooter with athletic moves to the basket and the ability to finish strong. Excellent on the defensive end. Her quickness enables her to force many turnovers.

Zakiyah Saunders (5-9 G/F) Unity Wildcats-Nestler/Carthage H.S.: A versatile guard/forward who is very strong and has an athletic body. She has the ability to take a game over by getting steals on defense and turning them into layups. Strong moves around the hoop, and uses her body to draw contact and get to the foul line. Hearing from Hofstra, UMBC, Hartford, New Hampshire.

Toni Pilla (5-6 PG) Hudson Valley Elite-Reilly/Ardsley H.S.: A very good ball-control point guard on the offensive end. Always seems to find the open player. Good shooter who can also attack the basket and finish strong once she gets there. Great pressure on-ball defender who forces more than her share of turnovers.

Lauren Moses (6-2 G/F) Philly Triple Threat-Taylor/Rancocas H.S.: A versatile, athletic guard who can get to the hoop seemingly at will and create her own offense. Outstanding athleticism who uses that skill and her size to her advantage at both ends. Has good, strong offensive moves that draw fouls and has her on the foul line often. Great size for how she plays. Hearing from Duke, Maryland, ACC and SEC schools.

Rebecca Musgrove (5-9 G) L.I., Lightning/St. Anthony’s H.S.: She has excellent court visision and a good handle. Gets to the basket often and finishes there. Good defender, and had success defensively playing against future D-I players here. Does a great job of getting teammates involved and finding the open player. Hustles at all times. Hearing from Ivy League schools.

Aryn McClure (5-11 G) NYC Bulldogs/Molloy H.S.: Great leaping ability and a great nose for the ball. She can block shots shots as she reads shooters well. Moves very well without the ball. Sets great hard screens. Can hit a pull-up jumper in transition. Finishes well in traffic. Good size for how she plays. Hearing from many high-level D-I schools, including most in ACC and Big East.

Amani Tatum (5-6 PG) NYC Bulldogs/Molloy H.S.: Great speed in transition and extremely quick hands. Very disruptive on defense. Standout transition player who sees court well on the move. Puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the defense on both ends of the floor. Great ball-handler that can control the flow of the game. Passes when necessary. Can finish in traffic, hit the three, shoot off the dribble. MVP here last year, but cast not as strong this year. ACC and Big East schools heavily involved.

Kori Bayn-Walker (5-5 PG) Baseline Elite 716/Gate Chili H.S.: Smart lead guard that can score while running a team. Short and stocky in stature, but plays bigger than her listed height. Uses court IQ rather than athletic ability Deceptively quick in small areas which allows her to blow past defenders. Shoots well from beyond the 3-point line. Had 20 points in one pool-play game. Good one-on-one skills. Hearing from UAlbany and Buckne..

Tiana Johnson (5-7 PG) The N.J. Family/Edison H.S.: Athletic, quick and fast. Blows by defenders and creates foul trouble for opposing teams. Brilliant at times off the dribble and as a distributor. Seems to be a natural scorer. Needs to improve perimeter shot. Shows ability to drive and stop on a dime for 8-to-12-footer. Long-limbed player. Average ball-handler. Plays passing lanes well.

Mary Mazzella (5-4 G) Lake Champlain Lakers/Peru H.S.: Diminutive but deceiving this creative ballhandler found ways to get to the basket and finish in traffic. Passing skills most impressive as she constantly created dribble penetration, drew defenders, and found ALL-GymRat CHALLENGE teammate Shannon Ryan for easy scores. Quick on the drive by with either hand. Excellent court vision.

Amira Giannatasio (5-8 G) SC Rebels ETP/St. Mary’s Catholic: Extremely smart player who sees the floor better than most. She can get to the paint and finish but also has capability of knocking down the three. Tremendous ball-handling skills that allow her to get into open spaces where she can knock down the open jumper or make the best play available. Very unselfish.

Brittani Burgess (5-11 SF) Cardinal Elite/St. Mary’ Ryken: An athlete in every sense of the word. A slasher with the ability to drive the baseline or the middle. Can finish with contact. Tremendous speed filling the lanes. Tenacious, long defender who seems to get her hands on everything. Searious hops/elevation on drives and pull-ups. Needs to be more consistent with jumper. Hearing from William & Mary, Delaware, East Carolina, Hofstra.

Chania Ray (5-8 SG) Cardinal Elite/St. John’s H.S.: High motor player who is everywhere on the court. Tremendous skills set makes her a complete player. Can score from three-point land or get into the lane while also feeding her teammates for open shots. Not big, but doesn’t mind mixing it up with the bigs for rebounds. Has a really good feel for the game. Hearing from James Madison, Hofstra, Delaware.

Chloe Jackson (5-8 G/F) Cardinal Elite/Riverdale Baptist: A real athletic slasher with the ability to leap out of the gym. Can finnish on both sides of the rim. A defensive nightmare. Can guard any position on the floor. Needs work on her jumper to be a big-time player. Streaky shooter for now with some 3-point range. Hearing from West Virginia, George Washington and Duke.

Kelly Loftus (5-11 G/F) Cardinal Elite/Mount Vernon H.S.: Can guard any position on the floor. Comes up with more than her share of steals. Has an all-around game. She can score, rebound, pass and create defensive havoc. Very solid at all phases. Nice stroke from outside with good form. Solid range out to 17 feet with ability to knock down the 3 on occasion. Committed to Hofstra.

Donnaizha Fountain (6-0 SF) Albany City Rocks/Cambridge-Latin H.S.: A high-motor player. Has a knack for being around the ball defensively. Anticipates plays better than most players here. On offense she can score from outside as well as slash to the rim. Doesn’t mind contact. Can leap out of the gym. Capable of playing any position on the court at either end. Hearing from Georgia Tech, Boston College, UAlbany, Temple, Syracuse.

Emia Willingham (5-9 PG) Albany City Rocks/Albany H.S.: Very skilled at running a team and being the floor general. Sets players up to be successful. Has ability to go off the dribble, shoot the umper or post up smaller guards. Good frame and size. Does a nice job handling the ball and creating angles for scoring or passing. Hearing from UAlbany, Dartmouth, La Salle and Providence.

Jade Walker-Johnson (6-2 PF) Ring City Elite/DePaul H.S.: Very solid build and not afraid to be physical. Eats up space in mid to low-post area. Tough as can be and strong enough to take on any post player. Can score facing up, with range, as well as with her back to the basket. Rebounds like it’s her job. Needs to stay motivated at all times to be a complete player. Hearing from Penn State, Michigan State, Seton Hall, Oklahoma.

Aliyah Huland-El (6-1 F) Ring City Elite/Randolph H.S.: Baby faced assassin. Her length and quickness are her biggest assets. A quick, long strides allow her to guard smaller players. She can rebound with post players. Can shoot the 3 ball as well as finish inside. Hearing from Georgetown, Virginia, many ACC schools.

Arliyah Lewis (5-4 PG) Ring City EliteBishop Ford H.S.: A lightning-fast floor general. Might have been the quickest guard here. Unbelievable low Tim Hardaway-like crossover dribble. Top level defender, a pesky gnat. Can shoot the 3-ball as well as attack the lane. Plays with a chip on her shoulder. Like all good PG’s, she finds shooters in the right place at the right time. Sees the floor well. Hearing from St. John’s, Providence and Seton Hall.

Calli Balfour (6-0 G) Triple Threat Elite/John Jay East Fishkill H.S.: A solid combo guard with efficient inside and outside game. Can hit the 3, but also likes to attack the rim. Plays with a lot of confidence. Better than average ball-handling skills. Needs to work on her left hand to be a complete player. Does a little bit of everthing. Got better here in every game. By the end of the summer a lot more schools will be after her. Hearing mostly from D-II’s right now.

Marbot Hetzke (5-11 PF) Crystal City Stars/Penfield H.S.: A ig body who is a rough and tough post player. A real glass-eater on the boards. Looks like she is starting to expand her offensive range. Can hit the 15-footer consistently. Runs the floor well for a power player. Hearing from some mid-majors, including Siena and Niagara.

Kylie Libby (6-0 wing) Maine Wave/Cheverus H.S.: A 6-foot player who can play either guard or small forward and who moves extremely well in all aspects of the game. Her length and athleticism help her create problems for opponents, particularly on the defensive end. Showed some nice post moves, but also an ability to run the floor and succeed in transition. Hearing from Binghamton, Holy Cross, Lehigh.

Kollyns Scarbrough (5-11 PF) NYC Lady Warriors-DeLuca/Christ The King R.H.S.: A very strong player who knows how to use her body. Has a very effective power dribble that enables her to get to the hoop. Her strength allows her to finish against contact. Also showed an effective cross-over-and-go dribble ability. Hearing from Providence, Marist, Bucknell and St. Francis U.

Zakiyah Saunders (5-9 PG/SG) Unity Wildcats-Nestler/Carthage H.S.: An athletic player who can effectively play the point. She sees the floor and distributes well. Very smooth player with good body control that gets her to the rim. Finishes once she gets there, or draws and dishes when defense collapses. Hearing from Hofstra, UMBC, Hartford, New Hampshire.

Cashmir Fulcher (5-6 PG) Long Island Lightning-Dingle/Manhattan Center for Science & Math: A true point guard with floor-general vision. Uses the cross-over dribble well to get past defenders and attack the hoop or distribute. Will stop and pop when denied a path to the rim. Hearing from Hofstra, Cincinnati and Marshall.

Nicole (Brianna) Rudolph (5-7 SG) Mass Thundercats-Avery/St. Mary’s-Lynn: A very athletic shooter with a good touch/stroke. She can also get past defenders and drive to the bucket from the wing. Uses her athleticism to get more than her share of rebounds. Her “ups” also enables her to out-jump defenders on her jump shots. Hearing from several Northeast 10 schools.

Sharell Sanders (5-5 PG) Mass Thundercats-Avery/St. Mary’s-Lynn: An extremely fast true point guard. She has an explosively quick first step that gets her past defenders with ease. Once past defense she has good body control to finish plays. But, if the path to the basket is blocked, she uses a nice pull-up jumper. Hearing from several Northeast 10 schools.

Morgan Mantz (5-11 PF) CBC/Taft H.S.: A strong power forward who is very good in the post. Also showed ability as a great high-low passer. When on the high post showed a terrific cross-over dribble/drive move and finishes at the basket against contact. Has range to hit the outside shots. Versatile player. Already committed to Quinnipiac.

Jasmyne Fogle (5-9 wing) CBC/Kolbe Cathedral Bridgeport H.S.: Nice size for a guard, already a college build in terms of strength. Uses her strength to be a good rebounder for a guard. Goes off the dribble, getting past defenders and finishes strong. Compliments her game with the ability to connect from three-point range. Hearing mostly fro low D-I’s, some D-II’s.

Essence Casey (5-8 wing) Salvation Army/Walt Whitman H.S.: Really takes pride in her defensive work. Very quick hands which she uses to get more than her share of steals. Also, a physical player who is a strong rebounder. When she gets a defensive rebound, she pushes the ball uup quickly. Good hesitation dribble and, then, takes it to the hoop strong for the finish or pull-up. Hearing from Lafayette, D-II’s.

Katira Jemmett (5-6 wing) Salvatio Army/Walt Whitman H.S.: Clever left-hander who prefers driving and going to her left. Has the ability to get past defenders and finishing strong. Has a nice get-by move to drive and either pull-up, pass or finish. Showed a nice mid-range jump-shooting ability and is also effective slashing into the lane.

Kara Houppert (5-8 SG) Rochester Revolution/Webster Thomas H.S.: A lefty that drives hard to the bucket. Very aggressive player with a will-do-anything-it-takes mindset. Showed the ability to hit the long-range shot here, out to three-point range, but also the strength to get to the basket and finish. Hearing from Quinnipiac and Slippery Rock.

Sydney Zamrotta (5-9 PG) New Heights/Upper Room Christian H.S.: Incredible court savvy. Handles the ball well, and has the ability to get past defenders and into the pant and, then, dish off to open teammates. But, can also finish, can pull up and hit mid-range shots and showed some long-range shooting ability. Great focus and an intense level of play.

Janicha Diaz (5-11 PF) New Heights/Manhattan Center: Uses her strength to be a force in the post. She likes the take turnaround jumpers as her primary offensive weapon. Had more of her share of tip-in buckets off rebounds here. Also had the ability to drive and pull up from the perimeter. Hearing from UMass, UAlbany, Dayton and several A-10 schools.

Staci Barrett (6-0 PF) New Heights/LUHI H.S.: Loves to drive the baseline and will finish once she gets to the bucket. If stopped, she’ll continue on for a reverse. Has a pull-up and jump-stop ability in her solid mid-range game. Has good athleticism and body control. Was a real force in the paint here. Offers from LIU, Rider and several other mid-majors.

Rose Ayala (6-2 PF/C) Albany City Rocks/East H.S.: Great hands and catches everything that gets thrown to her. Plays with a passion. Already a strong build. She can finish in the post, but also able to run the floor on both offense and defense to complete plays. Takes pride in her ability to block shots. Hearing from Eastern Michigan, St. Bona’s, UBuffalo, Canisius, UAlbany.

Maddy Ganser (5-11 PG/SG) Mass Blue Devils/Needham H.S.: A lanky and tall point guard that can really shoot from long range. Terrific court IQ who will take it to the hoop at every opportunity and either finish at the rim or dish to open teammates. Will hit the outside shot with great regularity when left open. Hearing mostly from D-II schools so far.

16:U HONORABLE MENTION ALL-GymRat CHALLENGE

Amanda Hawkesworth (5-9 F) Bay State Matic-Elite/Arlington H.S.

Olivia Conrad (6-1 C) Bay State Magic Elite/Archbishop Williams

McKenzie Brown (6-1 C) NE Crusaders-Black/Bedford H.S.

Julia Depoi (5-9 F) CT Mavericks/Brookfield H.S.

Katie Burke (5-9 F) CT Mavericiks/Nonnewaug H.S.

Hannah Nichols (6-0 F) Unity Wildcats/Cicero North Syracuse

Brittany Misler (5-11 F) Elmira Lady Express/Wellsville

Danielle Levine (5-11 F) Salvation Army/Sachem North

Brittany Gregory (6-0 F) Triple Threat/John Jay East

Mikayla Martinez (5-11 F) NE Crusaders-Grey/Cushing Academy

Kelly Guarino (5-6 G) Hudson Valley Elite/Albertus-Magnus

Grace Miller (6-3 C) Mass Blue Devils/Wellesley

Olivia Levey (5-11 F) CBC/Lauralton Hall H.S.

Jordan Burns (5-8 PG) Catskill Mountain/Franklin H.S.

Aryauna Perez (5-7 G) NW Crusaders-Grey/Holy Name

Meghan Strong (5-2 G) Lake Champlain Lakers/Ausable Valley HS

Denisha Petty-Evans (5-9 G) Ring City Elite/Bridgewater-Raritan

Samantha Wilkes (6-0 G) Ring City Elite/Immaculate Heart Academy

Sheila Sherrill (6-0 PF) Cardinal Elite/Edison H.S.

Taylor Dunham (5-5 PG) Cardinal Elite/Mount Vernon H,S.

Emily Durr (6-0 SG) Albany City Rocks/Notre Dame H.S.

Kelly Carey (5-9 G) NYC Bulldogs/Holy Trinity

Jasmine Alston (5-11 G) NYC Bulldogs/Bishop Loughlin

Tiana Carte (6-2 F) Maine Wave/Lake Region H.S.

Candice Andrews (5-5 G) Bay State Jaguars/Worcester Academy

Sarah Hope (5-8 G) Bay State jaguars/Medway H.S.

Emily Anderson (5-10 SG) CT Storm-Guisti/Rocky Hill H.S.

Olivia Healy (5-10 wing) Rivals White/Reading Memorial

Ashley Lutz (6-1 wing) Rivals White/Lincoln Sundbury

Lydia Vital (5-5 PG) VBC/Cambridge, Ridge & Latin

Audrey Denise Della-Giustina (5-11 wing) NE Crusaders-Grey/Gardner H.S.

Crystal Strother (5-7 wing) Cardinal Premier/Gwynn Park H.S.

Alyssa McDoough (5-7 wing) FBC Defenders/Cardinal McCarrick

Marle Curle (5-8 G) Lake Champlain Lakers/Plattsburgh H.S.

Giocelis Reynoso (6-1 F) CAS Panthers/Bronx Prep

Catherine Stinson (5-8 PG) Mass Thundercats-Avery/Lynn English

Johanna Impellizeri (6-0 G) Long Island Lightning/St. Anthony’s

Nyasha Irizarry (5-9 PG) NYC Lady Warriors/Archbishop Molloy

15:U AGE DIVISION

2011’s DISAPOINTMENT FUELS LI LIGHTNING’S RUN TO TITLE

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Long Island Lightning coach Rich Slater had a succinct message for his team at halftime of its 15-under division GymRat CHALLENGE AAU tournament’s championship game Sunday evening.

The message was: “Not this time.”

Not this time, indeed.

A year ago, with basically the same team members playing in the 14-under division, the Lightning lost leads of 18 at halftime and 17 with under eight minutes left to play while falling to the Philadelphia Freedom Stars in the 2011 championship contest.

But, not this time.

The Lightning held an eight-point halftime in this year’s championship game and with the memory of last year’s late-game collapse, along with continued strong team play, this year’s Lightning team not only held a title-contest halftime lead this year but extended it on its way to a 49-33 victory over Ring City to earn the 2012 GymRat crown.

Lauren “Boogie” Brozoski, a 5-foot-6 point guard who made significant contributions both running her team’s offense and with some long-range shooting, was named the division’s MVG (Most Valuable GymRat).

“Of course I brought up last year’s disappointment when I spoke to the team at halftime,” admitted Slater. “But I didn’t want to harp on it because I didn’t want that foremost on their minds and to have the kids start playing tight.

“I just reminded them of how we lost the lead last year, and that we had to just finish it out this year.”

Indeed they did. The team took the positive reinforcement of a past negative occurrence and used that as incentive. The Lightning didn’t lose the lead this year. Instead, they extended it throughout the second half to ensure a championship this year.

“It was a pretty good feeling winning here this year, considering what happened here in the same tournament a year ago,” added Slater.

But, the disappointment of the 2011 GymRat collapse seemed to fuel an urgency to pull together as a team this year, said the Lightning coach.

“We’ve got a good team … we lost by a point in another AAU tournament’s championship game the previous week … but, our success depends on team play,” said Slater. “That’s not an easy thing to establish within an AAU team.

“But, we’re fortunate in that four or five of the girls play together on my high school team (Long Island Lutheran). We’ve been able to bring some great kids together and they’re starting to trust and believe in each other. It takes some time, and a lot of work to get there. And, it’s still an on-going process for us. But, we’re getting there.”

The Long Island Lightning team definitely got there throughout the GymRat event, much like it seemed to be doing here in 2011. The difference this time, though, was this year’s team completed its championship task.

And, its memories of 2012 will be a lot different, and a lot more positive, than those left over from last year.

But, quite possibly, the Lightning needed last year’s disappointment to fuel this year’s success.

15:U ALL-GymRat CHALLENGE MVG – MOST VALUABLE GYMRAT

Lauren Brozoski (5-6 PG) Long Island Lightning-Slater/Long Island Lutheran: An extremely smooth point guard with the handle and toughness to back up her nickname of “Boogie.” Very quick with the ball in her hands and has a knack for dishing off spectacular and successful long bounce passes in transition that hoop junkies love to see. Knocks down the 3-ball when open and finishes through contact. Was a strong contender for an MVG award last year, too. Most definitely a strong high-major Division I prospect. Drawing early interest from many A-10 schools.

15:U ALL GymRat CHALLENGE TEAM

Katie Doherty (5-9 PG/SG) Long Island Lightning-Slater/Sachem East: Good combination of size and skill. A sweet-shooting combo guard who plays bigger than her height. Gets more than a guard’s share of rebounds and gets to the free-throw line with regularity. She knows how to move without the ball and showed superb shot selection.

Sianni Martin (5-8 G) Philly Triple Threat/Neumann-Goretti: A freshman (playing up a level) combo guard who is in attack mode at all times. She always seems to get into the paint at will. She is also a phenomenally tough defender who causes numerous turnovers. An impressive athlete who finishes through contact with either hand.

Jenna Erickson (5-5 PG) Saratoga Sparks/Tamarac H.S.: A true point guard, and a good one. Runs the team well and gets it out in transition. She reads defenders well and makes the right pass. Capable 3-point shooter when set. Very unselfish, but still scores when needed. Gets to the rim and uses above-average finishing skills. Also a tough defender.

Kylie Murphree (5-9 G) ABGC Lady Bulldogs/Fairfax H.S.: An athletically gifted combo guard who is incredibly active on both ends of the court. Jabs and fakes, along with a good first step, get her into the lane to score. Capable 3-point shooter. Unselfish player, especially in transition where she makes the long pass with ease.

Allie Clement (5-9 SG) Maine Firecrackers/McAuley H.S.: Super tough and a physically true shooting guard. Smooth 3-point shooter, but has an aggressive pull-up jumper that is way beyond her years. Two or three dribbles to beat her defender and, then, a sharp pull-up in space fueled her team here. Also possesses solid perimeter passing and ball-handling skills. Interest from Patriot League, America East, Boston College and Davidson.

Olivia Smith (6-3 C/F) Maine Firecrackers/McAuley H.S.: One of the top true post players at this age division. Consistently fighting for position with her back to the basket. Pulls in rebounds with two hands and is strong with the ball. Superb use of shot fakes in the post. Great post moves for her age, and gets up and down the court well for her size. Also, a top student looking at Ivy League teams and getting other mid-major level Division I interest.

Allison Girardi (5-4 PG) United Basketball/Rutgers Prep: Tough, gritty floor general who makes her team go. No fear in terms of getting into the paint where she can kick out to open jump-shooters or dump the ball off to her “bigs.” A quick, yet also physical defender despite her small stature. She is a definite defensive pest.

Missy Bailey (5-5 PG) CT Starters/Cheshire H.S.: A strong, physical point guard with a tight handle. She uses physicality, toughness and incredibly quick hands to cause steals and deflections by the dozen. Fast in the open court with the ball and is a smart and skilled passer. Getting mostly D-II level interest so far.

Heather Forster (6-2 C/F) Long Island Lightning-Slater/Huntington H.S.: Tall, strong and a physical inside presence on both ends of the floor. She rebounds and catches passes with two hands every time. Leaves her feet well for rebounds and keeps her hands up on defense. Very fundamentally sound. Offensive game still progressing, but showed a nice elbow jumper.

Rebecca Gartner (5-9 G/F) Conn Wescon Fillies/Danbury H.S.: A crafty left-hander with a nice three-point shot. She sees the floor extremely well for a wing player. She plays hard at all times, yet has good body control. Showed the ability to finish tough plays in the lane. Strong dribble into a pull-up jumper. Deadly in transition. Hearing from Vermont, Rhode Island.

Batouly Camara (6-1 C/F) Ring City-Omar/Blair Academy: Big, strong and a great finisher. Rough defender who is a great rebounder. Uses her physicality to her advantage. Great moves inside when composed. Creates space and gets position in the post. Shot-blocker who covers space well on defense with her length. Interest from Virginia, Georgetown and Syracuse.

Jocelyn Willoughby (6-0 C) Ring City-Omar/St. Phillips Academy: A very good on-the-ball defender. She is a physical player who has the ability to slash to the basket. Showed a nice pull-up jumper. Already has a strong, solid build and rebounds well. Just a rising freshman.

Carolyn Scacchi (6-1 F) North Shore Bobcats/Peabody H.S.: A tremendous shot-blocker. She gets great defensive position, then uses her long and lanky frame. Despite relatively slight build, showed nice strength. She keeps the ball high to get her shot off. Very athletic, high upside. Hearing from NE 10 schools right now.

Drew Winter (5-6 G) Ring City-Omar/Plainsfield H.S.: Great, strong handle. Gets position on defense. Anticipates opponents’ passes and is also a great on-the-ball defender. Outstanding floor general. Goes somewhere with the dribble and has the ability to get into the lane and cause problems for defenses. Hearing from Seton Hall, St. John’s, Georgetown.

Bridgette Mann (5-6 PG) NEPA Flames/Walenpaupack H.S.:A well-rounded, overall athlete. Keep an eye on her; she looks to have good upside. Smooth player and a good shooter. Plays tenacious defense. She can score off the dribble. Has long arms. Explosive going up court with push-out dribble. Nice easy move to the basket.

Sam Hyslip (6-1 F) MA Huskies/Westford Academy: Low-end high-post player. Excellent hands. Sees the court well and delivers the ball to teammates. Rebounder on both ends of the floor. Good feel for the game. Solid frame, and boxes out. As strength increases so will her ability to finish in traffic for traditional three-point play. Hard worker with great hands. Hearing from Div. I academic schools.

Julianne Wilkinson (5-6 G) Albany Capitals/Red Hook: Dynamic scorer who can slash and score. Can shoot the three. Excellent defender. Creates steals on the ball. She is just a player. As her body and strength increases she will add even more to her mature repertoire as a player. Definitely has a Division I future.

Kianna Patterson (5-8 G) Albany Capitals/Troy High: A good three-point shooter. Excellent handle, can go either right or left and can drive the lane. Attacks and breaks down the zone with her dribble attack. A future D-I player. Played up a level here. Solid one-on-one breakdown of her defender and then reads the help and distributes or scores.

Elise Graham (5-8 G/F) Ambush/Amity H.S.: Excellent handle. Has a feel for the game beyond her years (just finished 8th grade). She can score either on the slash or as a shooter. Definite future D-I potential. Nice pull-up jumper. Moves well without the ball. Hands and feet are always ready off the ball to score. Positive teammate. Gets active on offensive boards. Very quick.

Allieyah Cubbage (5-9 SF) Team Freckles/Roselle Catholic: Good handle. Excellent “ups.” Very athletic wing player. Good shooter with both a set and a pull-up jumper. Very aggressive on both ends of the floor. Rebounds and, then, leads the fast break. Capable of altering shots when she’s playing defense. Active defender who gets into the passing lanes.

Afeni Richardson (5-11 F) Team Freckles/Hillside H.S.: She can play both inside and out. Equally good in the post or on the wing. Very active on both ends of the floor. A real scorer, both from the perimeter or finding ways to score in the paint. Key to her development will be consistency, but keep an eye on her. Has good potential.

Kahla Hedgepeth (5-7 PG) Baltimore Starz/St. Francis: A rising freshman, but clearly a future big-time player. Excellent passer and handle. Tough defensive player. She can score when needed. Thick, strong build. Sweet step-back jumper. Reads defenses and creates space. Excellent moves to the hoop and has a nice touch. Quick hands on defense. Can break down an offense, get into the lane and pull up or get to the glass or distribute. Good post-entry passes. Needs a little consistency on jumper.

Casey Evans (5-11 F/C) New England Crusaders-Red/Londonderry H.S.: Tough defender who can score inside. Just a hard-nosed player. Sticks with the boards. Reads the ball well off the glass. Undersized post. Keeps the ball high. Smart player who uses the glass well on her shots. Nice post moves with a turnaround jumper and drop step. Aggressive rebounder.

Sara Messler (5-10 SF) New England Crusaders-Red/Oyster H.S.: Active with and without the ball. She ducks her head when she shoots, but is an excellent shooter nonetheless. An extremely hard worker. Consistent footwork (one-two step into mid-range shots. Aggressive player who works hard and is fundamentally sound. Just finishing 8th grade.

Morgan Belanger (6-2 F) CAS Panthers/East Longmeadow H.S.: One of the best players in the tournament. Slashes to the basket at full force. Although a righty, she gets to the basket with equal extension and smoothness from her left. Excellent hands, yet soft touch. A smooth slasher who uses her athleticism well. Strong on the boards. Alters shots with her defense, and also forces more than her share of turnovers. Early interest from Boston College.

Cassie Smith (5-9 G) NJ Panthers/Metuchen H.S.: An athletic guard who handles the ball with either hand. Very good decision maker. Very high hoops IQ. Also is both a shooter and a scorer. Had some key defensive stops in this tournament. Drives hard to the basket. Active and aggressive on both ends of the court.

Mary Kronenwetter (6-0 F) NJ Panthers/Bridgewater-Raritan H.S.: Very strong rebounder. She can score from inside the paint. Nice up-and-under move. Clever in the post. Talks on defense, directing teammates to assignments. Hard worker, and works hard and effectively in defending in the paint and on traps.

Amira Dixon (5-8 G) Westchester Hoopers/New Rochelle: A nice perimeter player who is an excellent ball-handler. Sets the tempo for her team and really makes it go. Extremely athletic with outstanding quickness. Can alter a shot and create a steal as an active and dedicated defender. Showed ability to sink the pull-up jumper.

15:U HONORABLE MENTION ALL-GymRat CHALLENGE

Amina Dixon (5-8 F/G) Westchester Hoopers/New Rochelle

Ciani Canter (5-6 G) Philly Tirple Threat Sacred Heart

Ciani Cryor (5-6 G) Philly Triple Threat/Prep Charter

Alicea Foran (5-7 G) United BB/North Hunterdon

Chelsea Gary (6-0 F) United BB/Nazareth

Courtney Adams (6-0 F) United BB/Hamilton

Isabelle Kendall (5-8 PG) Lady Bulldogs/Bishop Ireton

Jessica Daguillh (6-1 F) Lady Bulldogs/Fairfax

Amanda Calvo (5-8 G) Mass Frenzy/Frontier

Adiya Henderson (5-11 F) Saratoga Sparks/Tamarac

Emiily Hickey (5-5 G) NE Shooting Stars/Salem

Kiera O’Donnell (5-11 F) Ct. Starters-Red/Holy Cross

Casey Sullivan (5-11 F) Ct. Starters-Red/St. Bernard

Kelsey Clement (6-0 F) Ct. Starters-Red/Plainville

Joelle Mark-Anthony (5-9 F) Ct. Starters-Red/Sheehan

Theresa Ekhelar (6-3 C) NJ Family/Woodbridge

Veronique Ntumba (5-11 F) NJ Sparks/Ursiline

Hannah Metcalf (5-7 G) CT Wescon Fillies/Danbury

Torieana St. Pierre (5-11 F) Rivals Red/Berwick

Dominique St. Pierre (5-7 G) Rivals Red/Berwick

Victory Pryor (5-5 G) Baseline 716/Niagara Falls

Melanie Taylor (5-7 G) Baseline 716/Batavia Notre Dame

Cassidy Bundy (6-2 C) Ct. Storm-Buckley/Montville

Tori Hopkins (5-6 G) Ct Storm-Buckley/Morgan

Tamia Debarros-Cannon (5-10 F) Ct Storm-Buckley/New London

Latisha Clark (6-0 F) Westchester Hoopers/Peekskill

Oluwaseun Adenisi (6-0 F) Ring City/Curtis

Isabel McMahon (5-5 G) Ring City/Saddle River

Jaba Hutchins (5-5 G) Ring City/DePaul

Alexis Sears (6-0 F) Ring City/Lenape

Emily Anderson (6-2 F) Lake Champlain Lakers/Beekmantown

Meghan Mazzella (5-6 G) Lake Champlain Lakers/Peru

Jane Joyce (5-6 PG) NEPA Flames/West Scranton

Alexis Stephens (6-2 C) NEPA Flames/North Pocono

Sierra DaCosta (5-6 PG) Mid Atlantic Heat/Imani Charter

Shakirah Paulhill (5-11 F) Mid Atlantic Heat/Bishop McDevit

Taylor Deal (5-6 G) Mid Atlantic Heat/Arington Junior H.S.

Kristen Bullock (5-5 G) Fieldhouse Sting Elite/Bedford

Gabriella Coppola (5-1 PG) Fieldhouse Sting Elite/Watertown

Samantha Cowan (5-8 G/F) Fieldhouse Sting Elite/Bedford

Jennie Mucciarone (5-8 PG) MA Huskies/St. Mary’s

Maddie Bledsoe (6-0 F) MA Huskies/Newton North

Morgan Maiola (5-11 F) NA Huskies/North Reading

Ashley Thompson (6-0 F) MA Huskies/Blackstone Valley

Maria Lapertosa (5-11 F) Unity Wildcats/Whitesboro

Samantha Roberts (5-6 G) Unity Wildcats Cicero North Syracuse

Nina Davenport (5-11 F) Maine Firecrackers/Freeport H.S.

Aliska Starbird (5-8 G) Maine Firecrackers/Scarborough H.S.

Ashley Briggs (5-8 G) Maine Firecrackers/Scarborough H.S.

Kathleen Everson (5-11 F) LI Lightning-Slater/Sachem East

Taylor Byrne (6-1 F) LI Lightning-Slater/LI Lutheran

Sakara Hester-Torres (5-6 G) LI Lightning-Slater/LI Lutheran

Emily Nexster (5-11 F) Rochester Warriors/Rush Henrietta

Janae Graham (5-5 G) Anmbush/Amity H.S.

Chloe Brinton (5-7 G) Ambush/Amity H.S.

Caroline McDonald (5-9 F) Ambush/Amity H.S.

Devon Stessney (5-9 G/F) PA Pride

Jalyn Shelton-Burleigh (5-8 F) PA Pride/State College

Qua-Tasim Franklin (6-1 F) Team Freckles/East Orange

Alexis Akridge (5-8 G) Team Freckles/Union H.,S.

Juliette Gruthier (6-0 G/F) Panthers de Rosemre

Michelle Fitzgerald (5-11 F) Baltimore Starz/Md Academy of Tech Health

Yameya Johson (5-9 F) Baltimore Starz/John Carroll

Shania Stamper (5-7 PG) Baltimore Starz/Edgewood

Morgan Caution (5-11 F) Baltimore Starz/Institute of Notre Dame

Rachel Aho (6-0 F) NE Crusaders-Red/Wachusett H.S.

Masey Zegarowski (5-5 PG) NE Crusaders-Red/Ipswich H.S.

Taylor Disanto (5-2 G) Finger Lakes Fury/Lyons Central

Kelly Lawler (6-1 PF) Bay State Magic Elite/Thayer Acadey

Leah Spencer (5-7 G) Bay State Magic Elite/Archbishop Williams

Kendra Hicks (6-1 F/C) Ballerz/Springfield Catholic

Kia Romanoff (5-6 G) Ct Cobras/Coginchaug H.S.

Nicole Mierzejewski (5-11 F) Ct Cobras/Lyman Hall

Alyssa Velles (5-9 G) Ct Cobras/Norwich Free Academy

Anna Schrecengost (5-8 G) Ct Cobras/Avon

Rhiana Page (5-8 G) Boston Sharks/Brookline

Ann Marcein (5-9 G/F) Boston Sharks/Winthrop

Kelly Donnelly (5-11 (F/G) Averill Park Raptors/Averill Park H.S.

Julia Venturelli (5-8 G) NJ Panthers/Bridgewater-Raritan

Frankie Cherasaro (5-5 G) NJ Panthers/North Plainfield

Brittany Allen (5-5 PG) Cardinal Elite/Thomas Edison

Samantha Porter (5-9 F) Cardinal Elite/Mount Vernon

Tatianna Torres (5-7 F) Cardinal Elite/Washington Lee

Raven Lott (5-9 F) Cardinal Elite/Hayfield Secondary

Reagan Muhlerin (5-7 G) NE Crusaders-Yellow/Narragansett RHS

Carly Heman (5-9 G) NE Crusaders-Yellow/Worchester Academy

14:U AGE DIVISION

BARTNER’S CLUTCH SHOT LIFTS SHARPSHOOTERS TO TITLE

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — Morgan Bartner, a versatile 6-foot-1 forward for the Garden State Sharpshooters has a great philosophy about the sport of basketball.

“When my shot is going in I keep shooting,” she says. “When it’s not, I look to pass the ball.”

Bartner was feeling good about her shot as the final seconds of the 14-under division’s championship game of the GymRat CHALLENGE girls’ AAU tournament were ticking down and her team was trailing by a point.

Bartner was feeling good enough that, after getting a nice pick to break loose near the baseline on the offensive end that she started yelling for the ball.

In-bounder Jacqueline Knapp delivered it to Bartner about 14 feet away from the hoop, and Bartner wasn’t going to pass it away.

She rose up against a defense a tick slow getting to her and swished the game-winning shot with just five seconds remaining to give the Sharpshooters a 41-40 victory over the Bay State Magic in the division’s championship game played at Union College.

The points gave Bartner a game-high 16 in the game, but accounted for just her first points since those that came on a 15-foot jumper early in the first half that gave her squad a seven-point lead. A moment later that advantage swelled to nine points and the Sharpshooters seemed to be in control.

And then the Bay State team combined some strong defense and an efficient offense to rally back with a 21-9 run to take a 40-37 lead with 2:34 remaining.

The Florham Park, N.J. winners, though, got within one when Blair Watson scored from close range with about a minute left to play.

Bay State then failed to score on its subsequent two possessions and that left the Sharpshooters with a final possession with time running down that resulted in Bartner’s game-winner.

That shot, along with strong play throughout the eighth annual GymRat CHALLENGE, earned the MVG (Most Valuable GymRat) award for Bartner.

“She absolutely deserved the award,” said Sharpshooters’ coach Bob Cerrato. “She’s good at everything on the court, and she’s got a great mid-range jumper.

“That last play was designed to get the ball to her and for her to take the shot.”

“The play was designed for me, but I was going to take what the defense gave me,” she said. “We’re a real team. If I had the shot, I was going to take it. But, if the shot wasn’t there … then, someone else would have made the winning shot.”

The shot was there, though, and Bartner delivered.

But both Bartner and her coach, Cerrato, were confident others on the team could have delivered the game-winner.

“What we’re about is spelled out on the seats of our pants,” said Cerrato, point to the word “Teamwork” on each player’s uniform pants.

“This is a special group of girls, and they really embrace that team concept. It’s not easy to instill that at the AAU level, but it has continued to evolve as they year has progressed. As we’ve had success playing that way, it becomes easier to keep getting them to play together.”

And, so it was not only through the two days of the GymRat event, but in the closing seconds of a close championship game.

When the Sharpshooters needed team play at its best, they got it … a well-delivered pick that got Bartner open, a nice in-bounds pass that hit her hands in good shooting position and, then, the shot’s delivery.

It was a single play, a microcosm of the team-oriented style that carried the Sharpshooters through the two days of GymRat competition and to an Age Division championship.

14:U ALL-GymRat CHALLEGE MVG – MOST VALUABLE GymRat

Morgan Bartner (6-1 F) Garden State Sharpshooters/Morriston Beard H.S.: Not afraid to take the big shot, as indicated by her making the game-winner in the championship game. A very versatile player who already has good size for this level. Runs the floor well. A long, lanky player who uses that size well and will block shots. She is crafty on the offensive end with the ability to finish around the basket. Also comfortable in the high post. Will make good passes to teammates, but is also capable of making perimeter shots. Looks to have a bright future.

14:U ALL-GymRat CHALLENGE TEAM

Kayla Diaz (5-4 PG) N.J. Sparks/Garrett Morgan Academy: Excellent passer who makes others around her better. Superb use of the bounce pass. Handles the ball very well, always seems to be in control when she has the ball. Very good and active on the defensive end and gets more than her share of steals. Extremely valuable player at both ends of the court.

Taylor Brown (5-11 F) N.J. Sparks/Eastside H.S.: A lanky, smooth left-handler who showed a real ability to finish around the hoop on the offensive end. Active player who gets off her feet and showed the ability to rebound, particularly on the offensive end. Keeps the ball alive. She was at her best when slashing to the basket and isn’t afraid of contact.

Madison Zdebski (6-2 C) Cardinal Jr. Elite/West Potomac H.S.: Showed a consistent ability to score around the hoop. Good size, yet runs the court very well. Good hands, she catches everything thrown to her. Uses her height to advantage to be a very good rebounder. Still slender, so will only get better with added strength. But, she already has an impact at both ends.

Demeya Felder (5-7 PG) Cardinal Jr. Elite/Potomac H.S.: A proficient, effective point guard who had success despite playing up a level (she’s only an eighth-grader). A strong, good ball-handler. She showed the ability to make jump shots when her feet are set. Also had great success when slashing to the hoop and an ability to finish once she got there.

Meagan Eripret (6-2 C) Lehigh Valley Fever/Salisbury H.S.: Very good size already, a nice strong build. She makes a real difference at the defensive end, particularly around the basket. Does a lot of little things/dirty work. Strong inside player, good post defender and a good rebounder and shot blocker. She doesn’t have to score to have an impact on the game.

Ashley Storey (6-2 C) Maine Firecrackers-Clement/Greely H.S.: Already has nice size and a solid build. She showed good offensive skills, particularly around the basket where she finishes with either hand. Extremely hard worker at both ends of the court. Good rebounder and post defender. Also plays on the high post, an showed good passing ability.

Shalix Hines (5-3 PG) CAS Panthers/M.S. 4: Played up a level (only an 8th grader). Fast and agile point guard who uses those skills to be a very pesky defender. She handles the ball well, and will drive and dish. Sees the court well and can find and deliver to open teammates. Displayed a nice hesitation move. Needs to make better decisions at times, but that will come with maturity.

Jordan Hawkins (6-2 C) Baltimore Starz/Glen Burnie H.S.): Her size alone makes mer a presence on the court, and she uses her size and her strength to her advantage, Strong and tough player who doesn’t back down from anyone. Not afraid of contact. Good rebounder. Also showed ability to move well, very mobile for her size.

Deja Reynolds (5-7 G/F) Philly Triple Threat/Imhotep Charter School: An athletic wing player with a crafty understanding of the game. She is at her best when slashing to the hoop. Moves well on the break and scores well in transition. Plays the passing lanes well on defense and gets more than her share of steals and deflections. Showed a very quick first step.

Italee Smikle-Brown (5-9 G/F) PAL Running Rebels/Islip M.S.: Already a highly skilled player. A very good athlete who is at her best when attacking the basket. Showed an ability to handle the ball well. A player who uses her strength to her advantage. Showed an ability to knock down a jumper when left open.

Kristen Daley (5-11 G) Bay State Jaguars/Rivers School: An extremely talented player with multiple skills. A big guard who has a versatility to her game She is an excellent passer and makes “scoring” passes. Uses a flashy passing style to create openings. Often makes the game look easy. She goes hard to the basket, but can also shoot out to beyond three-point range.

Payton Ouimette (5-9 G/F) Bay State Jaguars/ Medfield H.S.: A real hustler who uses that “motor” to be an above-average rebounder for her size. Also showed an ability to finish around the basket. Very good ball-handling skills. Not afraid to go inside offensively, force the issue and to draw fouls. Showed a nice shooting touch with her feet set.

Summer King (6-0 C) Bay State Jaguars/ Walpole H.S.: Just a strong player who is a force around the basket. She plays a style that draws fouls. Nice ability to use her off hand around the basket. Rebounds very well for her size. Plays hard at both ends, yet also showed a nice court IQ. Just a “heady” post player.

Alana Gilmer (6-0 F) Bay State Magic Elite/Archbishop Williams H.S.: Smart player who plays an under-control type game. Decent touch on her shot. Also moves well, and showed a nice ability to finish in transition. She was a key member of the championship team in this event, and made significant contributions on the defensive end.

Jenna Giacone (5-9 G) Albany Capitals 14 National/Bethlehem Central: Showed an ability to shoot from long range. Only an 8th-grader, played up a level and did well vs. older competition. Plays under control and has a natural feel for the game. Versatile player with multiple skills. Showed a nice ability to rebound for her size. Looks to have nice potential.

Meghan Sullivan (5-9 G/F) Mass Frenzy Black/Granby H.S.: A versatile player with multiple skills who really knows how to play the game. Showed a nice ability to score from the perimeter, or can put the ball on the floor and finish with either hand around the hoop. Very difficult to stop on the offensive end. Also seems to have a good feel for the game at both ends.

Gabriella Giacone (6-0 F) Albany Capitals 14-National/Bethlehem Central: One of the best big athletes at this age level. Runs the floor very well and scores in transition. An excellent rebounder with a real nose for the ball. Has excellent hands, can catch on the run and finish without hesitation. Plays bigger than actual size. She has a non-stop motor. Finishes with either hand. Unselfish player who makes good passes out of double-teams. Real feel for the game and a great future.

Brittany Martin (5-7 G) Philly Triple Threat-Miller/Timber Creek H.S.: She really showed a great ability to score a lot of points quickly. Very accomplished offensive player who had a nice jump shot with good form. But, she also has the ability to use her dribble and first step to go past defenders, get to the hoop and finish. Works on the defensive end and will apply defensive pressure.

Bridget Herlihy (6-2 G/F) Bay State Magic Elite/Braintree H.S.: A highly skilled player who is a standout passer, particularly in transition. Plays like a “point forward.” Can score with both a nice jump shot, or by going inside. Very difficult match-up due to size and skill level. Finishes in the lane in transition. Uses her size/height to advantage on the defensive end. Just a good player who does many things well on both ends.

14:U ALL-GymRat CHALLENGE HONORABLE MENTION

Sanita Ebangwese (6-2 C) WNY Lady Lakers/West Irondequoit H.S.

Katia Oge (6-0 F) N.J. Sparks/Immaculate Heart Academy

Victoria Wagner (6-3 C/F) Jersey Shore Elite Wildcats/Franklin Regional

Alyssa Olson (5-8 SG) LI Lightning-Warner/Comsewogue H.S.

Sara Ciotti (5-0 PG) Rochester Warriors/Greece Athena

Ciera Dillon (5-6 SG) Rivals Black/Brookline H.S.

Karlee Krahnavi (6-0 C/F) Lehigh Valley Fever/Palisades H.S.

Ardella Brown (5-7 G) CAS Panthers/Harlem Academy

Kayleah McGuire (5-11 F) NY Pride/Yorktown

Gaby Rosensweig (5-7 G) NY Pride/Somers

Megan Konig (5-11 G) Baltimore Starz/Mt. Hebron High

Taylor Krajewski (5-6 G) CT Wave 9 Alves/Rockville H.S.

Raven Brathwaite (6-3 C) Boston Showstoppers/Brookline H.S.

Jade Moore (5-6 G) Boston Showstoppers/Cathedral H.S.

Blair Watson (5-11 F) Garden State Sharpshooters/Nutley H.S.

Juliette Lawless (5-8 G) New Heights/Pamfret H.S.

Cierra Rivera (5-1 G) Hudson River Hornets/North Rockland

Sayana Krusinsky (5-11 F) Firm AC Elite/Shenandoah H.S.

Haley English (5-5 PG) CT Basketball Club/Wilton H.S.

Allison Barber (5-3 PG) Rock Solid/Pittstown Area H.S.

Cayle Spencer (5-7 F) Rock Solid/Lake Lehman H.S.

Gabbie Volpetti (5-8 G/F) Rock Solid/Dallas Area H.S.

Alexis Lewis (5-10 F) Rock Solid/Holy Redeemer H.S.

Alexis Case (5-5 SG) Albany Capitals 14 National/Greenwich H.S.

Khadaija Brooks (5-9 F) Connecticut Bandits/Bristol Eastern H.S.

Nia Holland (5-6 PG) Philly Triple Threat/Shipley H.S.

Tiana Morgan (5-8 G/F) Philly Triple Threat/Kingsway H.S.

Brooke Ervin (5-11 F) Tim Jackson Rochester Premier/Webster Schroeder

Mikayla Lea (6-0 C) Philly Triple Threat/Wilson H.S.

Cameron Graupman (5-7 G) WNY Lady Lakers/Hilton H.S.

Catherine Ebner (6-3 C/F) Jersey Shore Elite Wildcats/Rumson-Fairhaven H.S.

Tara Kelly (5-11 F) Cardinal Jr. Elite/Lee H.S.

Jasmin Wilson (5-11 F) Hudson River Hornets/Paramus Catholic H.S.

Jessica Kovatch (5-7 G) United Basketball/Phillipsburg H.S.

Olivia Schmidt (5-3 PG) Jamestown Elite/Holland H.S.

Chrisanna Green (5-9 F) Jamestown Elite/Jamestown H.S.

Janessa Luciano (5-2 G) Rivals Silver/Concord H.S.

Samatha Trearchis (5-5 G) Rivals Silver/Tyngsboro H.S.

Jazmin Diggs (5-8 G) Triple Threat/Poughkeepsie H.S.

Amy Duggan (5-11 F) Bay State Jaguars/Norwood H.s.

Melissa Rogers (5-2 PG) Bay State Jaguars/Arlington Ctholic

Megan Hendrick (5-8 G/F) Monica Wright Elite/Edison H.S.

Maria Valente (5-8 SG) Maine Maniacs/Gray-New Gloucester H.S.

Brianna Herilhy (5-11 F) Bay State Magic Elite/Thayer Academy

Taylor Warnum (5-10 F) Bay State Magic Elite/Blue Hills Academy

13:U AGE DIVISION

BENZAN EMULATES MOM IN LEADING JAGUARS TO TITLE

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — The Bay State Jaguars’ 13-under age-bracket championship of the 8th annual GymRat CHALLENGE girls’ basketball AAU tournament might have been earned on Father’s Day, but it was most definitely both a celebration of and a tribute to a mom’s influence.

Kim (Kelley) Benzan, a standout point guard at Holy Cross from 1984-1987, now coaches the Jaguars’ program, a team that includes a budding approximation of herself.

That would be daughter Katie Benzan, a slightly built 5-foot-4 dynamo point guard whose feisty on-court leadership, floor generalship and ability to also produce some points on her own can be recognized as a chip-off-the-old-block image of her mom.

It’s more than mere genes, though, that has helped the younger Benzan become a budding standout on the court. Being around mom, who recently resigned as the varsity coach of the Needham (Mass.) girls’ team in order to have more time to watch her daughter play, was a clinic-like experience for Katie.

“She has been around basketball, through me, her whole life,” said the elder Benzan. “And, she has developed a terrific basketball IQ. She always sat behind our bench, and she’d often be trying to give me some instruction. By the time she was eight years old, she’d be whispering things in my ear, during games. Things like `Time to get out of that 1-3-1 zone.’ She is a real student of the game.”

Katie Benzan’s work running the Jaguars on the court here helped lift the Wellseley, Mass.-based squad to a 45-36 victory over the Boston Show Stoppers in the division’s championship contest Sunday at the Saratoga Recreation Center.

Annie Barrett led the winners with 12 points in the contest, while Benzan added 11 points and several nifty assists.

Mostly, though, the youthful point guard ensured her team played as a unit. Her all-around work throughout the event resulted in her being named the division’s MVG – Most Valuable GymRat.

“Mostly I tried to make sure everyone gets open shots,” said Benzan, about her play.

“She’s always trying to make the right plays,” said mom/coach Kim Benzan. “She plays with a lot of intensity. She’s a vocal leader. If someone isn’t doing the right thing, she’s not afraid to tell them.”

The younger Benzan is quick to recognize the positive influence of having a mom whose playing career is one she would like to emulate.

“It helps a lot to have a mom who played the same position as I do,” she said. “She’s always giving me tips here or there. We talk after games and she tells me if I made the right reads and decisions on plays. She helps me work on my on-court IQ, and she helps me be a leader.”

The coach said there’s more to her team than a daughter who is already a standout point guard.

“We’ve got a team that does everything well,” said Kim Benzan. “I’m fortunate in that I’ve coached most of these girls since they were in fifth grade, and have moved along with them.

“The kids know that we stress team play, rebounding and defense. It’s not hard to get them to buy into those things, because they know that’s what I demand from them.”

That type of unselfish, winning style of basketball is what defined the elder Benzan a player during her own career.

And, now, those lessons are being passed down not only to an entire AAU team, but most directly to a daughter who is off to a good start of a basketball playing career that looks like it will continue to be reminiscent of her mom’s.

13:U ALL-GymRat CHALLENGE MVG – MOST VALUABLE GYMRAT

Katie Benzen (5-4 PG) Bay State Jaguars/Noble & Greenough H.S.: She showed true point-guard skills, rare for such a young player. A very smooth floor general that does a great job of controlling the tempo of the game. She is like a coach on the floor, which isn’t surprising considering the influence of her mother, a successful high school coach. She is a pass-first guard with tremendous court vision and decision-making ability. She gets teammates the ball at the perfect time. Also got into double figures in scoring in a number of games here. Just a true leader.

13:U ALL-GymRat CHALLENGE TEAM

TT Hyatt (5-4 G) Finger Lakes Fury/Churchville School: A tremendous shooter with a quick release that doesn’t require a lot of space to get it off. She has range to even beyond the three-point line. Also showed ability to run the point with good court vision. She will need to get quicker to become even more of an offensive threat.

Madison Springfield (5-10 SF) New England Crusaders-Gold/Jeffrey Rindge School: A very rangy forward that is a threat both facing the basket or posting up. A match-up nightmare as she is too tall for guards to cover in the post and is too quick with a good handle for post players to guard when she goes out to the perimeter.

Kelly Campbell (5-7 PG) N.J. Shoreshots/St. John Vianney School: A pass-first point guard that shows great court vision and the desire to get her teammates involved. She has a high basketball IQ, which allows her to see things plays developing. She is more than capable of scoring or knocking down open jumpers when needed.

Ashley Jones (5-6 PF) Philly Triple Threat/Cedarbrook School: A lightning-quick guard who is almost unstoppable when she wants to attack the basket. She changes direction on a dime, and is a highlight reel with her crossover dribble. Has ability to be a lock-down defender with quick hands and lateral speed. A consistent jumper will make her even a better player.

Olivia Orlando (5-7 wing) Rivals-Gold/Georgetown School: A very versatile player that can play any position from 1 through 4. She shows the ability to be a stat-sheet filler as she is capable of leading a team in points, rebounds and assists. She showed the ability to attack the hoop, or knock down open jumpers at this event.

Erin Irving (5-7 G) Cardinal Rising Stars/Mt. Vernon: A dynamic scoring guard. She has a strong body that almost makes her unstoppable on the drive if there is any contact, and she can finish through contact around the hoop. Quick first step that allows her to blow by defenders. Showed ability to dominate games at times.

Kaela Hilaire (5-4 PG) New Heights/Floral Park: May have been the most-complete point guard at the age group. Very quick with the ability to blow by defenders at will. Great court vision and does a terrific job of creating offense for teammates. She displays a calm demeanor and really knows how to run a team.

Jasmie Taylor (5-9 PF) New Heights/Washington Irving: A very long forward that factors in on both offense and defense. She does a great job of finishing at the basket as well as showing a jumper out to 15-foot range. Defensively her length alters a lot of shots. She also has ability to keep a lot of balls alive on the boards.

Mikaiya Moore (5-10 PF/C) New Heights/Copiague: No post player is going to out work her. A physically imposing inside player that simply dominates the lane. She shows the desire to go after every rebound, and the talent and ability to score with her back to the basket. She plays the post with an attitude coaches love to see.

Sayawni Lassiter (5-8 win) Boston Showstoppers: An explosively strong guard that is at her best attacking the basket. She has a strong build that allows her to overpower other guards. Not only was she a strong player, but she displays a team-first mentality and was quick to support teammates here.

Vanessa Udoji (5-10 F) Baystate Jaguars/Northfield Mt. Hermon: A very athletic wing player that is at her best finishing around the basket. Her long arms allow her to play bigger than her listed size. She is a very mobile wing and is able to get up and down the floor with ease.

Luzdali Ocasio (5-7 wing) Boston Showstoppers/Milford: An explosive scoring wing that can take over games at times. She excels at attacking the basket and finishing at the rim. She has a strong body that allows her to finish through contact. defensively she does a great job of staying in front of her assignment and, then, forcing turnovers.

Carly Boland (6-0 PF) Albany Capitals/Shenendehowa: Makes good offensive choices, sees open teammates and can deliver accurate passes to them. Has a nice jumper and scores consistently. Has great body control in transition with her dribble and for pull-up jumper. Applies good defensive pressure and positions herself well for rebounding.

Saire Sangare (5-10 C) Albany Capitals/Shenendehowa: Strong inside presence on both ends. Applies good defensive pressure and has strong box-out posture. Controls boards when in position and makes great outlet passes. Strong on-target passer and follows the ball to the basket to position herself for rebounds/put-backs. Offensive strength is on the block, going hard to the hoop.

DeJannaire Deas (6-0 C) Albany Lady Falcons/Holy Names: A right-handed post with a preference to make moves to her left. Very nice developing drop step that should be used more. Moves well off ball, getting into good offensive position. Very accurate shooter inside. Good hands and goes effectively to the basket. Inconsistent in boxing out, though. Can dominate the paint with greater effort.

Ayanna Hunter (5-4 G) Albany Lady Falcons/Albany H.S.: Well-developed ball-handling skills and can effectively bring the ball up court through a defense. Sees the floor well and distributes passes effectively. Has a nice jumper, and also drives to the basket and makes good decisions on when to pass off the drive. Great defensive pressure. Needs to develop strength to extend shooting range.

Emily Jacques (6-1 C) Maine Maniacs/Edward Little School: A smart position player who consistently boxes out and gains possession. A good passer who moves well off the ball for offensive opportunities. Also handles the ball effectively in the open court. Consistently scores on layups, and positions herself for put-backs. Sets good high screens for guards. Needs a little quicker release on jumper.

Lauren McBride (5-11 C) Next Level Skill Set: Aggressively seeks post position for shot opportunities. Effective using both left and right hand. Excellent in transition, staying active on both ends of the court. Nice shooting form and she will be difficult to defend when she gains strength and greater shooting range.

Jahsyni Knight (5-0 PG) C.J. Cardinals: A high energy point guard who is already advanced for her age (a sixth-grader). Applies constant defensive pressure, creating numerous turnovers. Great court vision and had many assists in every game here. An outstanding ball-handler who can alternate driving to the hoop and passing off with ease. Fearless for her size and age. Very unselfish, smart player who is fun to watch. Tremendous foundation which should elevate her in years to come.

Sydney Morang (5-10 G) C.J. Cardinals/Gill St. Bernards: Most-impressive offensive player at this level. A left-handler who uses both hands extremely well. Great size for a guard her age, and can play either point or shooter. Beautiful jumper. Great sense of what skill to use in each opportunity. Goes strong to the basket and has a soft pull-up shot. She is in constant motion covering the court on both ends. Will be even more dangerous with more strength and speed.

Niki Johnson (5-5 G) Ring City/JHS: Nice outside shooter who also handles the ball well and distributes to teammates with accuracy. Keeps control of the offensive end of the floor with direction and poise. Scores on drives with either hand. Defensively she uses quick hands for deflections and applies good pressure causing turnovers. Increase of strength and size will enhance her game.

13:U ALL-GymRat CHALLENGE HONORABLE MENTION

Ali Fitzgerand (5-7 G) Finger Lakes Fury/Canadaigua Academy

Sydney Jones (5-5 G) Finger Lakes Fury/Midlakis H.S.

Annie Blackburn (6-3 C) Bay State Jaguars/Noble & Greenough H.S.

Annie Barrett (5-5 G) Baystate Jaguars/Brown, Buckingham & Nichols

Olivia Ware (5-10 F) Baystate Jaguars/Westwood

Annemarie Schnoor (5-9 F) Jersey Shore Wildcats/Thompson Middle School

Jackie Robinson (5-7 F) Jersey Shore Wildcats/Matawan-Aberdeen

Cameron Lynch (5-5 G) Jersey Shore Warriors/Holy Cross

Adella Brown (5-7 F) CAS Panthers/Harlem Academy

Jessie Geller (5-4 G) New Jersey Gym Ratz/Demarest M.S.

Hailey Reynolds (5-9 F) New Jersey Gym Ratz/Ramsey M.S.

Mackenzie Press (5-2 PG) New Jersey Gym Ratz/ Hayworth M.S.

Hannah Everidge (5-8 F) New England Crusaders/Paxton M.S.

Brianne Purcell (5-1 PG) New England Crusaders/Ross A. Lurgio M.S.

Ryan Holder (5-10 F) Baltimore Lady Panthers/Roland Park Country

Nkeiruka Okororie (5-11 F) Baltimore Lady Panthers/Poly

Zoe Pero (5-11 F) N.J. Shoreshots/Secaucas

Nicole Morris (5-7 G) N.J. Shoreshots/Rumson Fair-Haven

Alisha Aube (5-10 F) Maine Firecrackers/Westbrook

Emily Esposito (5-7 F) Maine Firecrackers/Gorham

Chrishyanah Alston (5-8 F) Philly Triple Threat/Sanford

Iyanna McCurdy (5-9 F) Philly Triple Threat/St. Malachi

Ashley Berube (5-7 G) Rivals-Gold/Londenberry M.S.

Jillian Paulus (5-2 G) JB Hoops/Scranton Prep

Maddie Martin (5-2 G) JB Hoops/Dunmore

Gabrielle Redden (5-10 F) CJ Cardinals/Franklin

Alyssa Rivers (5-8 F) CJ Cardinals/West Windsor

Olivia Bonavita (5-7 F) Springfield Ladyballers/Birchland

Kelsie Jacobs (5-9 F) Springfield Ladyballers/Sabis Regional

Ishanna Brown (5-7 F) Springfield Ladyballers/JFK

Carly Christof (5-4 G) NJ Gym Ratz/Saddle Day Prep

Milan Johnson (5-3 G) NJ Gym Ratz/Teaneck

Brianne Tarabocchia (5-8 F) NJ Gym Ratz/Saddle Day Prep

Takora McIntyre (5-6 G) Boston Showstoppers/Fenway

Juliana Dunlop (5-6 G) Maine Firecrackers/North Conway

Lauren Foley (5-8 F) Sting Elite/Lincoln Sudbury

Samantha Ford (5-4 G) Sting Elite/Acton Boxboro

Olivia Macellan (5-5 G) Sting Elite/Bedford

Nakaela Elliott (5-9 F) Albany Capitals/Saratoga

Raven Farley (6-3 C) Team Freckles/St. Helenes

Precious Featherson (5-11 C) N.J. Sparks

Alexis Brown (6-1 C) Albany Lady Falcons/Albany

Samantha Ashton (4-9 PG) CT Storm Premier/Eliot M.S.

Charee Osborne (5-9 F) CT Storm Premier/Isaac

Danielis Abreu (5-8 F) New Heights/Grand St. Campus

Skydajah Patterson (5-8 F) New Heights/IS 125

Morgan Simpson (5-2 G) Fairfax Stars Premier/Oakton

Jaqualah Holliman (5-8 F) Boston Showstoppers/Fenway