Coolidge Colts Take Fall Jamboree

Ron Bailey, Publisher

October 23, 2007 – This past weekend, Hoop Magic Sports Academy hosted its Fall Jamboree, a mixed high school/travel team tournament for young people, spanning 10 and under through prep school-aged participants. Per usual, the staff at Hoop Magic, including the facility’s owner Curtis Symonds and tournament director, Arize Ifejika, ran a great tournament, in a comfortable, amenity filled environment.

But as talented as they are, this isn’t about them; the young guys who competed are ffocused upon. All should be recognized, as they battled tooth and nail over three days. As in every competition, somebody mush win, and here are the champions, in each age grouping.

Senior Division
DC Colts 76 Progressive Christian 70

The Colts, comprised of students of Coolidge High School (DC), used moxie, heart, and skills to defeat Progressive, a team of primarily prep school athletes. Despite being smaller, younger, and having fewer players, the Colts battled back from a 12 point deficit, late in the first half.

The Colts, with trophy

Chief to their comeback was senior point guard, DaQuante Thompson (10 points), who not only found open teammates repeatedly, but steadied his team when Progressive went on a 13-4 run, producing the prep-centric Progressive’s aforementioned lead.

Standout players, guard Norville Arnold (13 points) and forward Dontay Harvey (20 points) were central to Progressive’s effort.

Part and parcel to their team gaining the lead was aggressive play and ample talk – as happens in hoops, the older guys were attempting to intimidate their younger challengers.

Thompson wasn’t having it. “I tried to get the team under control” said DaQuante of his role in the Colt’s comeback.

Nor did he allow the verbal exchanges to throw him off his game, as Thompson noted “I told myself I’ve been in this position and it wouldn’t help my team to start all that talking. I didn’t want to fall into the same dilemma, when I’ve been in that position before”.

Following his lead, the Colts closed the deficit to 45-39 at the half, in part by focusing on both sides of the floor. Leading the charge offensively was junior guard Derrick Washington (22 points), freshman forward Bruce Littles (16 points), and senior guard Zack Webb (8 points) – the trio all scored at the rim and in transition, while Washington additionally drained a three ball.

The Colts continued their charge in the second half, this time focusing on defense, as they employed a 2-3 match up zone that stymied Progressive, whose offensive attack typically entailed one pass and then a shot.

Donald Campbell, the Colts’ coach, indicated afterward “The change to a zone was the strategy, because we had to play better defense”: That alignment not only made entry passes and drives more difficult, but forced Progressive to play more patiently.

That, and their own offensive patience paid off, as by Washington’s fast break layup and subsequent foul shot at the 7:15 mark, the Colts led 63-61, a lead that would stretch to as much as nine points, again through defense, but also rebounding, and solid all around play, despite a slew of missed free throws.

To close the game, senior guard Johnathan McNair (8 points) embodied the Colts’ effort, as he repeatedly snagged key possession extending offensive rebounds, made good passes, and hit several foul shots.

Was the victory huge for Thompson, his team’s unquestioned leader? You bet it was.

“It’s the biggest win at our school in I don’t know how many years” he exuberantly said afterward smiling with obvious pride and satisfaction.

If the Colts can continue to play I this manner, the sky’s the limit in 2007-2008.

Other Championship Scores:

Junior Division
MD Bulls 70 PW Ballers 66

According to the Bulls’ coach, Joe Thompson, his eight player team, comprised of “just our guards”, focused on stopping the PW Ballers, and as such were victorious. “Defense, that was the key” he said. “We are a defensive squad”.

The Maryland Bulls

The Jamboree finished and excellent season for Thompson and his charges, one in which they were the Potomac Valley 14 and under champions, and got to the elite 16 level in the AAU nationals.

For the game, Denzel Primus had 20 points for the Bulls, while Dante Stokes chipped in 13, and Holdyn Grant added 12. the PW Ballers were led by Mark Alston’s 20 points, and 18 from Dlante Holmes.

14 and Under Division
MD Wildcats 72 Hoop Magic (Tate) 59

Wildcats – Peyton 28, Bass 16
Hoop Magic – Javon Settles 26

12 and Under Division
DC Assault 56 Future Players Organization 33

DCA - Thurmon Gregory 24
FPO – M.Rowe 8, C. McFarren 7

Note: DCA’s coach, Dwayne Anderson, noted the game initially had a grudge match feel to it, but in the final analysis, the basketball I.Q. of several of his players created the outcome.

10 and Under Division
Maryland Bulls 57 Cardinal Basketball 31

MD Bulls – Isaiah Lavan 17
Branden E. - 7