Bethesda Magic Work Their Mojo at Main Event
Ron Bailey, Publisher
After winning the prestigious Main Event tourney, the Bethesda Magic poise for their team photo. Gary Stein, the squad's coach, labeled the victory the "most significant" of his coaching career.
August 11, 2006 – Throughout the latest AAU/travel team season, the Bethesda Magic struggled to integrate members from three teams/schools into an effective unit. After uneven performances in such highly competitive tournaments as Bob Gibbon’s Tournament of Champions, several Charlie Weber events, and the Southern Invitational – all of which the team showed glimpses of what they were capable of but always fell short - a breakthrough came in Las Vegas, NV during late July.
At just the right time, the Bethesda Magic, coached by Gary Stein finally meshed. Resultantly, the team won the Main Event’s 16 and under Platinum Division’s championship; an event widely believed to be the most competitive 16 and under tournament in the country. In the Bethesda Magic’s case, they definitely saved the best for last.
As mentioned above, Stein and the Magic encountered early travails, which were understandable, as this year’s squad was comprised of various, unfamiliar components: Three former Bethesda Magic members (Brett Stein, Jamel Bailey, and Eric Burnstein) were present, along with eight young men who played for the Prince William Pacers last season (Jason Clark, Reginald Wanzer, Joseph Valez, Joseph Young, Tyrone Smith, Craig Hayes, Devonn Blackshear, and Raymond Haynes), and two Montrose Christian School student athletes (Terrell Vinson, and Isaiah Armwood).
Brett Stein (left), Isaiah Armwood (center), and Jason Clark (right), all competed well during the Tournament of Champions, but the team as a whole suffered from unfamiliarity, which had been remedied by the time of the Main Event tournament last month. All three young men played major roles in capturing that Las Vegas-based tournament's title.
During the team’s 58-38 loss to the North Carolina Raptors in Tournament of Champions action, their growing pains were evident. It’s not that the team didn’t play hard, as they did, but the lack of experience competing with each other betrayed their spirited play. When asked about that tournament recently, Stein, indicated “That was the first time the team played with Terrell Vinson” - a young guy who would become a key component of the squad.
Fast forward to the Main Event. Despite not having a spent significant practice time together, the team had learned to work together on the floor, specifically utilizing an offense in which the ball was advanced inside, and then kicked out to open shooters if nothing was available. Jason Clark labeled it “something like a drive and kick” offense, which the rising junior ran last year at Bishop O’Connell.
His coach, agreed with that assessment, then added more description. “It was an offense predicated on ball movement” said Stein, who adopted the deployment based on experience garnered through his years of not only coaching, but also operating as a high school referee. Guards were assigned to dribble penetrate or pass the ball to front court players, and the rock was “kicked out to open shooters, who shot in rhythm”, if good shot opportunities closer to the cup were not realized.
Above, Jason Clark is shown driving the lane, while teammate Terrell Vinson (left, barely in photo) picks a foe. Magic coach Gary Stein designed this attack, with the guard attacking either shooting, or passing out to an open shooter. At times, the ball was advanced by passing to frontcourt players in lieu of the dribble drive.
In the eyes of the Magic’s coach, this attack had two benefits. First, he believes “kids like it”, as it keeps everyone involved. Secondly, given their limited practice time, its simplicity yet effectiveness would be easy for his young players to grasp, adopt, and trust.
Clark averaged 15 points a game during Main Event play, while anchoring the team, and as Stein shared, managed to “really stepped up his play”; all while remaining impressively consistent is his performance level. Magic assistant coach, Louis Blackshear, stated Jason played a pivotal role in the team’s championship game defeat of the nationally competitive Team Melo. “It was like the game was in slow motion” given both team’s fatigue level, said Blackshear. This long time AAU coach, who has worked with Clark for a number of years now, then recounted Jason, near game’s end, “just got a burst of energy”, exploded offensively, and “put us ahead”.
Also accounting for 15 points per contest was Vinson. A rising sophomore at Montrose Christian School, Terrell provided a formidable inside presence all tournament long, in addition to timely outside shooting. According to Blackshear, the latter was illustrated in the game against Team Melo, where “He opened up the scoring hitting back to back threes”.
Stein also highlighted the contributions of Armwood and Brett Stein. Armwood, another rising sophomore at Montrose Christian, not only averaged seven points a game, but provided a stout interior defensive presence. Stein - the player - a sharp shooting guard entering his junior year at the Bullis School, assisted Clark in the backcourt by periodically running the team, while consistently knocking down open jumpers. His offensive exploits accounted for eight points each contest.
Upon being asked about the victory, Brett, who has been with the Magic since his father Gary decided to coach youth ball six years ago (upon being being told tongue in cheek by a colleague he had knowledge of everything), felt the win was a long time coming. “For the past six years we were going to all of them (tournaments)”, but not exiting victoriously said the younger Stein. “When we got Jason, Isaiah, and all of them, I thought we could (win)”.
“By the end of the summer, we were meshing” added Brett, who also responded “Definitely”, when asked if this victory excited him for next year’s prospects. The elder Stein shares that optimism, and revealed the win has immediately created more interest in Bethesda Magic hoops, as sponsors and possible players have contacted him.