Video: 16U captures ASGR playoff championship, fourth title of the summer

Published July 30, 2016 | By Firecrackers

Firecrackers end the 2016 season on a 17-game win streak

Four months ago the Maine Firecrackers 16U team started a new journey for girls basketball teams in Maine as they became part of the prestigious ASGR Summer Basketball League. The league designed to bring the top teams together during the Division I Live viewing periods, in an effort to garner the most exposure for the teams participating. This Journey concluded on Friday morning in the Charlotte, North Carolina area with the 16U team coming away with the 2nd Annual Championship in an exciting 47-45 victory over the So. Alabama Starz.

Before the girls could move into the championship game they had to take on the Riverside Hawks, a team out of New York City area. Coach Briggs knowing that this could possibly be the last tournament game for his group of five Juniors, Emily Esposito, Brie Wajer, Katie Butler, Danasia Fennie and Alaina Birkel, decided to start them together, out of respect to what they have committed and meant to the program.

The first half of the game was a back and forth contest with the Riverside club jumping to a 5-0 lead before Wajer got the team started with a 3 pointer. The team trailed 9-3 when Coach went to his bench. Anna DeWolfe provided a big spark for the team by knocking down outside jumpers, hitting running floaters and finishing on driving layups. The half ended with the Firecrackers trailing by 1 point 22-21.

The second half, the young tandem of DeWolfe and Mackenzie Holmes took over for the Firecrackers, as they combined to score the first 18 Firecracker points, highlighted by a Holmes put back rebound for an “and one” 3 point play that open up a 9 point lead for the Firecrackers midway through the 2nd Half. Wajer and Esposito broke the “youngsters” run and while Riverside fought to the end, they could never get the gap to closer than 5 points and the final score showed a Firecrackers win 44-36.

This left two teams remaining in the 32 Team Invite only event. Maine would take on So. Alabama Starz a team that averaged 62 points a game heading into the final. Watching the Starz warm up they didn’t give an overt appearance of a team that would strike fear into an opponents heart. This seemed to hold true as the Firecrackers ladies raced to a 12-2 lead, mostly on the relentless motor of Holmes who scored 9 of those first 12 points. Hey this was going to be easy, right? The Firecrackers quickly found out this game was going to be far from a cake walk.

After a shaky start the Starz spread offense began to reap benefits as they spaced the floor nicely hit some open 3 pointers and drove and dish for easy lay ins. Quickly the lead was cut to 12-10. As Holmes rested Esposito and DeWolfe took turns scoring and matching the Starz points. Holmes reinsertion into the line up helped stop the penetrating scores, Holmes finished with 6 blocked shots in the game, none better than a huge left hand block on a driving Alabama player, which lead to a Firecracker score. Faith Blethen added a 3 pointer and at the half the Maine girls led 24-19.

The second half started slowly and the full court defensive pressure being applied by the Starz began to have an impact. They quickly turned the game within the first 8 minutes of the half and led 35-31 at the mid point. The teams traded hoops, with Starz knocking down long and deep 3 pointers only to be answered by a DeWolfe 3, a patented foul line jumper by Esposito, a great driving lay in by Alex Hart and finally a slick reverse layup by Holmes left the Firecrackers trailing 44-40 with about 3 minutes to play.

The Starz began to hold the ball when inexplicably their coach in a moment of frustration at his player, stepped onto the floor and tried to push the player to their right spot. This was done right in front of the official who had no choice but to “T” up the coach. DeWolfe hit both foul shots and the lead was cut to 2 points, however, the Firecrackers failed to fully take advantage by turning the ball over on the inbounds play.

The two teams swapped one foul shot, Wajer for the Firecrackers making one of hers. The Starz took possession intent on trying to hold the ball as they spread the floor, Holmes anticipated and stepped out just enough to get her hand on a pass and create a turnover and the Maine girls still had life. The wizard-Iike play of DeWolfe would never be more on display than on the next play. She found herself at the top of the key, made a strong move towards the basket and just as she went up for the shot from the foul line, a narrow passing lane opened, she than threaded the needle with an unbelievable pass to Holmes who scored the lay in to tie the game.

With the score tied the never say quit girls from Maine dug in defensively, with Hart, Wajer, DeWolfe, Esposito and Holmes determined to make a stand and give themselves one more shot. With the Firecracker 15U team cheering them on from the sidelines with chants of “Defense, Defense” the ladies made the defensive stop of the game and took possession and Coach Briggs used a timeout with less than 10 seconds of play. The Firecrackers were one possession away, one correct execution of a play they have worked on for 4 months to bring home a championship and cap a thrilling ride through Carolina.

As they came out of the huddle, it was time to seal the deal and who better to do it than Esposito, the player who has spent so many seasons in the Firecracker Orange and created countless opportunities for the younger players in the program. The ball was inbounded to DeWolfe who raced to the sideline to receive the pass. As this was happening Esposito spun off a hard back screen by Holmes and DeWolfe let go of a lob pass to Esposito who caught the ball and laid it in as time ran out and sent the crowd to their feet and a jubilant celebration for the second time in two days. A perfectly called play, perfectly executed with a perfect pass resulting in an absolutely PERFECT finish to a tremendous season by this special team.

In the end the Firecrackers finished the year winning 4 Championship events including this final one. They finished the season with 17 consecutive wins but more importantly they played as a team, they won as a team and will have memories they will cherish for years to come. Well DONE LADIES!!