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The best part about this years Massachusetts state tournament was the looks on people's faces when they saw good team after good team fall in defeat against the twenty-fourth ranked Hoop Specialists Thunder. After beating solid teams such as the Young Guns and the Cape Cod Crusaders, the state's upper-echelon teams such as the Boston Blazers and the Middlesex Magic started to take notice.
This team from out of nowhere was also playing without three key players, two of whom where starters, because of AAU's thought-provoking grade exception rule. The team was now down to six players (the five starters from Lexington, MA), leaving them with only one sub. In one game, defensive specialist Seth Garro fouled out in the first half, leaving them with five players the rest of the way.
The team played eight games in two weekends. During the extended tourney, Max Schneider and Armen Adamian combined for fifty points per game on deadly outside shooting, and unstoppable penatration. They also provided leadership and unselfishness, to go along with much improved defense.
As possibly the fastest fifteen-year-old kid in the state, the aforementioned Garro took advantage of his ability and piled on the steals, charges, and defensive stops. He also ran the show effectively while Adamian was on the sidlines taking a quick breather.
Danny Joseph fluidly combined a newly refined perimeter game, with his usual power-post-up/rebound game, to go along with his beastly defense. By the way, he is just a touch under 5'9".
6'5" big-man Jimmy O'Keefe utilized his height like never before, pulling down many a board, swatting a plethera of shots, and using his soft touch to shoot over shorter defenders. All the while battling foul trouble with a short bench, and larger-framed opponents.
When the realization that there would only be five kids on the team took affect, the team hurriedly called "Big Nick" Hogan up from the 14 and under team and he came through big time. As the team's only sub, he gave it a huge burst of energy with his willingness to battle down low with more physically-gifted opposing big men. He also provided clutch rebounds, buckets, and free-throws down the stretch to close out games.
After going 3-1 in the first round of play, the team came back the next weekend hungry. After winning their first game by a mere two points against a vastly underrated CMAC South team, Hoop Specialists guaranteed themselves a trip to at least the Division 2 Nationals in Houston, and with a win the next game, they would earn a spot in the Division 1 Nationals. The team was in for a real challenge against the overmanned and oversized (but not over-skilled) Middlesex Magic who were ranked second in the state. The game started off tight, but in the end, the Magic utilized their deadly fastbreak, with its fifteen players,to defeat the exausted Thunder. Hoop Specialists ended up going home 2-2 on the weekend, losing a close game to fifth ranked MYCW, and coming from behind to defeat eigth ranked Mass Hysteria by fifteen.
Although the team was disapointed with the .500 second round record, they realized that it was a huge step for the Hoop Specialists orginazation, earing much respect, while earning themselves a chance to compete for the Division 2 National Title.
-M.S.
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Top row from left: Forward James Chen, Center Jimmy O' Keefe, Forward Nick Hogan
Bottom row from left: Guard Max Schneider, Guard Armen Adamian, Forward Danny Joseph.....Not pictured - Guard Seth Garro.
Players not going to Nationals: Center Ronnie Ruggerio, Forward Vassily Kostakis, Forward Stevie Games, and Guard Jason Davilio, because of the grade exception rule.