Blogs
THE COURT
The Court Brings Four Different Age Levels to Compete in D.C.
by | May 3rd, 2023
THE COURT AAU program geared up for the Marquee Hoops Select Circuit session in Washington, D.C. Four age groups represented THE COURT: 10U, 11U, 12U, and 13U. As they prepared for the tournament, each age group brought unique strengths and faced different challenges.
The 10U team faced tough competition and gained valuable experience throughout the tournament. They beat Expressions New York by a large margin in their first game and then played two intense, competitive battles with very strong programs: Team Durant & NJ Bulldogs. Both games came down to the final possession, and the team ended up losing both to finish the weekend 1-2.
Jeremy Lewis played outstandingly for the team on the glass, giving them a post presence against massive and athletic teams. Their guards, Allstein James and Mason De Jesus helped set the tone with defensive effort and tenacity. Their wings, Paitin Tyson and Liam Rivera provided a strong scoring punch and allowed them to handle the high-pressure defense. Matt Kubera and Jabrel Harris provided a scoring combination off the bench that provided a spark in big moments when the team needed it.
The 11U team boasts a talented group of guards, with shooting guard Kenny Collins leading the team in scoring. With a record of 2-2, the team fought hard. They had to battle back in many games, and they rose to the occasion multiple times. They showed the ability to handle adversity and overcome slow starts to put teams away and secure wins. The team played against some high-level competition and showed their willingness to compete. Their coach, Adam Ziewacz, was very proud of their competitiveness throughout the weekend.
The 12U team features a balanced lineup with multiple players who can score when a bucket is needed, helping them close out the weekend with a 2-1 record. In a big win on Saturday night versus a talented Brooklyn Kings team, Janiel Soto delivered four threes, which helped the team get a close win.
“All weekend, we played well as a team,” Head Coach Chris Boucher said. "We have a deep, talented team, and we have quality contributions that impacted the play from all 10 guys over the course of the weekend to help us pull out two wins.”
13U finished with a 3-0 record over the weekend.
"The team played a solid defensive tournament and executed when needed," Coach Griffin said. "All great teams win by playing together in basketball and making the extra pass when needed. We're really starting to come together after our first two weekends.”
Methods of travel to the tournament differed for players, with long car rides and even plane rides for some. Players were exposed to a different environment than they were used to and were challenged to step outside of their comfort zone and compete against some of the best competitors in the Northeast. Teams remained focused on their goals, which included performing well and showcasing their skills at an elite event.
This event features 3 weeks of circuit games, almost like a regular season, and the top teams qualify for the Championships in New Jersey in June. After the first weekend, all teams set themselves up nicely for future weeks and to make a run to the Championships. The event is an excellent opportunity for the boys to be exposed to different environments, teams, play styles, challenges, and opportunities. "It's really all about the experience for our guys and the opportunity to learn," Chris Boucher said. "The wins are nice, but that's not why we're doing it. We're trying to push our players outside of their comfort zone and challenge them to help them grow. At the end of the day, this is about the long journey. We believe that continuously pushing our players and challenging them to hit that next level will help them on their path to reach their ultimate basketball goals. We also have a lot of fun along the way."
The Court came to DC ready to face the challenges they would face, and all four teams competed well. As they prepare for the next session, they know anything can happen on the court, but one thing is certain: they will compete hard and leave it all out there on THE COURT.
Battle for the Border Winter League Power Rankings 2.7.23
1. TCBC-6th boys 5-0
Even though the TCBC 6th Grade Boys did not have a game this weekend, they are still the most dominant ones out there on the court. They seem to have everything figured out. They have won all five of their games played and they look to continue that dominance the next time they take the court this weekend.
2. Springfield Energy 5th/6th girls 6-0
The Springfield Energy girls team have improved their record to 6-0 making them the best girls team we have on the court. They are in the same spot in our rankings as last week, but if they continue on the path that they are on they may be able to overtake the top spot in the near future. The Springfield Energy took on the TCBC free agents girls team and won in a close matchup, 50-46, which proves they are even great in clutch time.
3. CT Wolves 7th and 8th boys 5-1
The CT Wolves are back in the same spot as last week as well. They did not have a game over the weekend either, but just like the TCBC-6th grade team, they have proven that they still deserve to be in the top three. They are still one of the best teams in the league and I'm sure that they will continue to make a case to move up in our rankings after this weekend.
4. Springfield Ballers-Omar 7th and 8th girls 7-2
Playing more games than most teams seems to be working out for the Springfield Ballers-Omar team as they have improved their record to 7-2 after a win over the weekend. They took on TCBC and had a great 20+ point victory which continued their overall dominance in that division.
5. Northampton 5th and 6th boys 6-1
Northampton still looked dominant after this weekend moving up one spot after the loss to the St. Pats girls team. They are in the lower division, but they have the record to prove that they should still be here and their game this weekend was phenomenal. They beat the Manchester Knights-Dan and held them to only 13 points, which is amazing from a defensive standpoint.
6. For the Talented 5th and 6th boys 5-2
The For the Talented team has improved to the sixth spot this week after winning this weekend, improving to 5-2 on the season. They took on the Western Mass Tigerz who are a tough team and beat them, 52-45, in a thrilling game. They proved that they should move up the rankings this week and maybe can jump up even higher with a couple more wins.
7. St. Pats-8th boys 5-1
Although they are in the second division, the St. Pats 8th Grade Boys team seems to be coming out every weekend and continuing to improve. They are now 5-1 after a three-point victory against the RBC Tigers in a very close game this past weekend.
8. Springfield Ballers-Johnson 7th and 8th boys 5-1
Also being 5-1, the Springfield Ballers-Johnson team looks very competitive and has a great team behind them. They came out and won this weekend after scoring 67 points in the process which is one of the highest point totals in the league this year so far. That was impressive enough for them to land in the eight spot this week!
9. ACC-8th 3-1
Even with them not having a game over the past weekend, they are still in the A division with a 3-1 record proving they are a quality team. They did get bumped down one spot, but that doesn’t stop them from coming out, winning their next game and taking that spot back next week.
10. Agawam 7th and 8th boys 5-2
The Agawam 7th/8th Grade team did lose their last game, but their record is still 5-2 showing they have a lot of potential to be one of the better teams in their division. They were ninth last week in our rankings. This week they find themselves down one spot, but they are still on the list and could climb back up next week if they get back in the win column.
Torres’ coaching adjustments help him to lead by example
“It’s about more than basketball,” Eli Torres said.
Torres said he learned how to be a good leader and father figure from his own dad, and has taken all he has learned into his first season coaching for The Court. Last Spring was Torres first time leading a team at the high school level, and that comes with many new challenges.
Before he coached at The Court, Torres coached for the Breakers, which is how he got some of his players to join him now on his current team. As time went on, those players spread the word to other players and things continued to grow.
Eli Torres talks to his Breakers players after a game
It is normal for it to take time for players to adjust when they join a new team, and the same went for Torres who realized he had to take a step back.
“I’m used to over-coaching, teaching fundamentals, and teaching during the game,” Torres said. “It’s nice to relay my vision to the team and let the boys play their game.”
Torres said he thinks that players need someone to guide them more than anything while explaining to them why they can or cannot do certain things. Communication is important to Torres’ coaching style, and how that message gets delivered is key.
A lot of coaches resort to raising their voice in high-pressure situations, but Torres, on the other hand, is the opposite. Torres can be seen pulling players aside on the sidelines during games talking to players calmly, and has found this to be the most effective way for him to get through to his players.
“I like to be transparent and honest with parents and players,” Torres said.
Torres does his best to keep it real, and tries to lead by example. His players seem to notice their coach’s actions, and they even take what they learn on the court off of it.
“It’s not all about basketball,” Torres said “It’s about putting real-life experiences into it.”
Eli Torres lead his team to a Hall of Fame Columbus Day Challenge win this Fall
This style of teaching is how he gets his players to buy in, resulting in his team’s playing with a lot of effort and heart. Torres also gets his players to play with a lot of energy. Mix that with their athleticism and it is easy to see why his team’s seem to stand out from the rest.
Even if his team is not shooting the ball well, they seem to find ways to still get through the game and be competitive. The bench has high energy all the time to help the guys on the court stay into the game.
Torres has a lot of talented players on his team, but can’t start them all. He said he knew his team this season was special from the start, but knows it isn’t just about what happens on the court.
“It’s not always perfect, but when they buy in is when you have success,” Torres said. “It becomes fun and very rewarding.”
Battle for the Border Fall League Power Rankings- 11/7/2022
- Putnam- Boys HS
While Putnam did not have a game this week, they still remain the top team for the final week of our power rankings. They have proven to be worthy of this top spot so far this whole year through their play, and there’s no reason for them to be knocked down. Putnam remains 9-0 on the season as we get ready for the playoffs.
- TCBC- Gorman - Boys HS AAU
TCBC Gorman also remains in their same position this week, as they held it down against MA Havoc this past weekend with a 79-59 win. Another dominant performance added to TCBC Gormans resume allows them to remain in the second spot of the rankings, and also remain undefeated at 9-0 for the season.
- Sam Goody Aces- Boys 7/8th
The Aces also did not have a game this week, but similar to Putnam, their consistent dominance through the season has been enough to keep them in the same spot in the power rankings. The Aces are 9-0 on the season and have not yet lost a game.
- Springfield Energy- Girls 5/6th
The 5/6th girls Energy team kept their foot on the gas through the end of this regular season, as they defeated the Springfield Ballers- Lunsford this weekend, 39-21. It’s been a string of impressive wins for this squad all year, which is why they’re ranked so high. They finished 1st in their division at 9-0 on the season.
- SECC Tigers- Baker- 7/8th Girls
SECC Tigers- Baker had no game this week, so no change in the power rankings was necessary for them, as no teams below them in the rankings did anything groundbreaking to jump over them. The Tigers are the one seed in their division and have won all nine of their games this season.
- SECC Tigers- Soto- Boy’s 5/6th
The other top SECC Tigers team, this one run by Coach Soto, also remains in their same spot in the last power rankings of the season. With a win over the Mass Panthers this week they showed why they deserve to be regarded highly in this league, as they are now 9-0.
- Suffield Academy- Girls HS
Suffield Academy moves up a spot in this week’s power rankings after winning 40-29 over a very solid Enfield team this weekend. Suffield Academy showed some diversity to their game, as they were much more focused on running plays in the half court, compared to their usual run-and-gun transition style, and it worked very well. They remain undefeated on the season with a record of 9-0.
- Windsor Locks- Boys HS
After first entering the power rankings last week, Windsor Locks has moved up even more to the eighth spot for this week. They took home a win in a pretty close game against Belchertown, 59-51. Once they beat Suffield last week, they brought themselves to the top of their division, and this win helped them stay there, as they are 8-1 on the year.
- TCBC-Ceasar Boy’s 7/8th
TCBC- Ceasar enters into the power rankings this week coming off of two big, double digit wins over TCBC-Sal and Ellington. This team is loaded with talent and coming on strong headed into the post season. They redeemed their two early season losses and are on a nice winning streak heading into the playoffs.
- Purpose Driven Select- Girls HS
Another team making the jump from Honorable Mention to their first appearance in the power rankings is Purpose Driven Select from the Girl’s HS division. They won this past weekend against a solid East Windsor team, 33-25. This win is one of many big wins this season, and their one loss on the year was by only one point. They are 8-1 on the season and close out our final power rankings of the Fall.
Honorable Mentions
Northampton- Girls 7/8th
Suffield- Boys HS
TCBC Ceasar- Boys 7/8th
TCBC Sal- Boys 7/8th
By Ryan Ward
POWER RANKINGS
*These Power Rankings are through the completion of games on October 23, 2022
- Putnam (Boys High School)
Putnam has moved up to the top spot this week after yet another dominant performance, winning 62-45 against Amherst this past weekend. Putnam continues to win games in convincing fashion, and they’re now one of the only remaining undefeated teams at 8-0.
- TCBC Gorman (Boys AAU)
Even while winning yet again this past weekend, the reigning number 1 team in our rankings TCBC Gorman has dropped a spot to second. This is due to their narrow one-point win this past weekend. They played a tough team despite their opponent only having one win on the season. TCBC Gorman remains undefeated however at 6-0, and a huge win could very easily boost them back to the top spot.
- Suffield Academy (Girls High School)
While Suffield Academy didn’t have a game this past weekend, they still moved up a spot in the rankings due to the team above them dropping. Suffield remains undefeated at 6-0 with wins against many quality opponents under their belt, which is enough to keep them toward the top of the rankings even on a week where they did not take the court.
- Springfield Energy (Girls 5th/6th Grade)
The Springfield Energy quite literally brought the same energy they’ve had all season again this week, with a 39-15 win over TCBC Teighlor to remain undefeated at 7-0. Winning by 24 against a very solid team shows how good this team is, and let's not forget the even bigger wins they’ve had throughout this season. This team is very well coached, and I believe are good enough to even compete with some of the older girls teams in the league.
- Sam Goody Aces (Boys 7th/8th Grade)
Sam Goody Aces continued their streak of extremely dominant wins throughout this season, with a 63-33 win over the Bulldogs, who now fell to 4-3 after this game. The Aces have won every game so far this year in very convincing fashion, with their smallest win by 15 points. They have even won a game by 94 points earlier this season. Continuing to play at such a high level will give them an opportunity to continue to rise in our rankings.
- SECC Tigers - Baker (Girls 7th/8th Grade)
Back-to-back in these power rankings, we have two SECC teams, as we have the SECC Tigers - Baker in the 6th spot this week, showing it to be a quality program. The Tigers won their game by 14 this week, in a 36-22 win against the Springfield Ballers - Gee. Being the only undefeated team in the Girls 7th/8th grade division, they’ve certainly shown they deserve to be in these rankings. Currently 8-0 on the season, they look to keep their undefeated season alive as the playoffs approach.
- SECC Tigers - Soto (Boys 5th/6th Grade)
SECC Tigers have been very consistently great throughout the season, winning by 14 or greater in every game aside from a one-point win a couple weeks ago. A 43-29 win against a solid opponent in HYA Wolfpack is surely enough of a reason for them to remain in these power rankings. SECC looks to continue this success after improving to 7-0 on the season.
- TCBC Sal (Boys 7th/8th Grade)
TCBC Sal has been doing great so far this season, as they are yet to have lose a game. They’ve had a couple of convincing wins this year, with 20 and 24-point wins this year. Only playing four games and having a forfeit however plays a part in this team not being ranked higher, as we need to see if they can sustain this success over a larger sample size. They are 5-0, and remain one of the only undefeated teams.
- TCBC Torres (Boys High School AAU)
It’s not often that two teams that have won their game will drop down in the rankings, but with a league consisting of so many quality teams, that happened this week. Very similar to TCBC Gorman, this team has been rather dominant so far this season, but a win by only one point against a team further down in the rankings is enough to slide them down. However, TCBC Torres is still looking great, and are 7-1 on the season, with their only loss coming by one-point to TCBC Gorman.
- Suffield (Boys High School)
Suffield High School earn the last spot in our rankings even though they didn’t have a game this weekend. They earn their spot in the power rankings after they had a huge second-half comeback against a very strong Windsor Locks team last week in a game where they were down double-digits in the first half. Suffield has a great opportunity to trend upwards in these rankings with the way they’ve been playing and are 5-1 on the season.
Honorable Mentions
-Northampton (Girls 7th/8th Grade)
-Purpose Driven Select (Girls High School)
-Windsor Locks (Boys High School)
-Ellington (Boys 7th/8th Grade)
Allen and Almodovar team up, continue to teach on and off the court
Tim Allen and Omar Almodovar have played numerous times and had success on the court together for years. This season they take the same court in a different fashion hoping to get similar results.
Allen and Almodovar teamed up to coach 7th and 8th grade girls’ basketball for the Springfield Ballers. Before teaming up on the sidelines, Almodovar coached Paper City for four years, while Allen coached the Springfield Ballers for eight years.
These two coaches understand the importance of building relationships with their players on and off the court. They are both so driven to be not just good coaches, but to also connect with their players.
Allen and Almodovar share a similar drive and passion for the game, and that adds to what drives them to be good coaches.
“It’s exciting to witness the variety of competitors,” Almodovar said.
The Springfield Ballers are currently 2-2 in the Battle for the Border league this Fall and have notably split their two matchups with the Springfield Energy so far this season. The girls have been playing together as a team and they fight until the end in every game.
Tim Allen coaches his Springfield Ballers on the court at the Basketball Hall of Fame
Almodovar says the bond he forms with the ladies he coaches stands out to him and is something he looks forward to each season.
Allen says he hopes the girls fall in love with the sport of basketball like he has and continue playing for years. He thrives on helping encourage his players’ growth as individuals and team members.
“I enjoy assisting the ladies in building their confidence and resolving professional roadblocks along the way,” Allen said.
These two coaches came together because they were losing players because of commitments to other sports, which caused a shortage of players at tournaments and practices. They decided it would be best to join up and have enough players while also building a stronger team.
They both fell in love with coaching girls because of their own daughters who also play. Allen’s daughter plays on his 7th-grade team, while Almodovar’s daughter also plays as well.
Not only do coaches teach their players things, but players can teach coaches some things as well. For example, while coaching the Ballers, both Allen and Almodovar have learned how to have better patience.
Both coaches have watched these girls grow up and coached them for years now since the girls were younger. Building invaluable relationships and connecting with their players has allowed these two coaches to support their girls through ups and downs both on and off the court. One message is consistent no matter the circumstance: keep working.