16U remains unbeaten at Summer Basketball Playoffs
Firecrackers knock off Brandon Wright (TN), 46-34, to advance in NC
The Maine Firecrackers 16U Team took the court Wednesday afternoon looking to continue their run of impressive play at ASGR events riding a 9 game winning streak. They knew they were in for a battle if they were going to push the streak to 10 games as they were facing a a well organized Brandan Wright program from Tennessee. The program is founded by the NBA player of the Memphis Grizzlies. The Firecrackers rode their traditional well balanced offense and defensive pressure for a 46-34 victory, holding the Tennessee squad over 20 points below their average.
The game started with Mackenzie Holmes continuing her strong interior play as she scored the first 5 points of the game for the Firecrackers, including a driving spinning left handed lay in over two defenders, to give Maine a 5-2 start to the game. Emily Esposito than took over the scoring load for Maine as she scored 6 of the FIrecrackers next 8 points including a eye popping coast to coast lay in over the Tennessee defenders. Brie Wajer also scored a hoop off a nice feed from Anna DeWolfe and the ladies pushed the lead 13-5 with about 7 minutes to play.
The Tennessee squad began to heat up from the perimeter knocking down long 3 pointers and using pressure defense to force the Firecrackers out of their normally pinpoint offense. Alex Hart checked in and did a great job of handling the pressure being applied by the Wright squad. Reserves Faith Blethen and Katie Butler controlled the boards versus the aggressive Tennessee team as the teams went back and forth. Alaina Birkel also provided a spark knocking down two needed foul shots and the Firecrackers led by 5 at the half.
The 2nd half was a tremendous battle and led to some of fine individual performances from Firecracker players as the well balanced team took turns with players hitting big hoops. DeWolfe again rebounded from a tougher first half to score on a jumper and driving layup. Esposito continued her strong play with a couple of baskets, however, the team could not open up any room from B-Wright.
With the Firecrackers perimeter players being pressured hard, the Maine squad focused on getting the ball inside to Holmes who responded with 3 straight baskets and pushed the lead to 7 with about 6 minutes to play. The Tennessee team answered “Wright” back with 2 deep 3 pointers to cut the lead 32-31. Brie Wajer than took her turn for the Firecrackers hitting a 12 foot jump shot and than a beautiful driving lay up, drawing the foul and hitting the lay in. After another 3 pointer from Tennessee, Esposito added another highlight move with a spinning baseline jump shot and Danasia Fennie hit a big foul line jumper to answer a score from Tennessee.
With time running out and the Wright team pressuring hard, DeWolfe put the final dagger into the heart as she buried a Deep 3 pointer and added a lay in off broken pressure to push the lead out as the Firecrackers finished the game with a 46-34 win and ran their streak out to 10 straight in ASGR events. They will face the Mid-West power Team Ohio in the quarterfinal action Thursday at 12:25.