Firecrackers Briggs Get Their Season Underway in Rhode Island

 

Front Row: L-R: Alisha Starbird, Allie Clement, Sam Frost, Ashley Briggs

Back Row: L-R: Nina Davenport, Olivia Smith, Coach Don Briggs, Olivia Shaw, Brianne Maloney

 

The 15U Maine Firecrackers kicked off their 2012 AAU Season with a trip to Rhode Island to participate in the Northeast College Showcase. According to the Tournament Director, 64 division 2 and 3 colleges checked in (88 coaches in total). To this point, the team had only played 3 games this season and although the group has been together for several years, they were still far from tournament ready.

The schedule was a challenge with 2 games on Saturday evening and twelve hours later 2 more games on Sunday morning, at total of 4 games in 17 hours. In addition, the Firecrackers played up in the 16U division.

The first game was against Bay State Magic. This was probably one the ugliest games this team has played. It was a grind throughout. Everyone was off their game. The team lacked consistency on offense and even the usual trustworthy defense wasn’t that much better. The lack of execution in critical moments and discipline on defense led to a one point defeat. Whilst the fact it was the teams first real “AAU game” of the season was a mitigating factor, it was safe to say that for the players, coach, and parents this was a very disappointing loss. Lost 33-32.

It is worth mentioning  “AAU game” because this was the teams first taste of this type of atmosphere in 2012. In this type of event, there are no 1&1’s after 7 team fouls, but only after 10 team fouls. There are 12 hours of games on four courts with a desire to not make each game a foul shooting contest and to keep games on time. This means minimal whistles are blown,  and it was a rare sight to see someone shoot a foul shot. This was an adjustment coming from the high school season where it seems fouls are called every time down the floor. The Firecrackers needed to make an adjustment and raise their level of aggressiveness both offensively and defensively.

Our next game was against the Mass Frenzy, who apparently was very upset that they would be playing a 15U team. This was not communicated to the team, with  the goals of the weekend top go out and compete, and “let’s improve each game”. Allie Clement, shaking off a rough first game, bounced back with her usual energy and got the Firecrackers going in the first half with 12 pts. Olivia Smith also had a great first half with 10pts as the Firecrackers were up by 7 at the half. The best part of this game –  the defensive intensity that was lacking in game one was present in this game. Nina Davenport, Brianne Maloney, and Vic Lux complimented the inside work of Smith with outstanding interior defense. The rebounding was huge and the discipline to box out was excellent. The perimeter defensive pressure being applied by Ashley Briggs, Sam Frost, and Alisha Starbird was much improved as well and allowed them to get numerous steals that were converted into lay-ups at the other end. While Clement and Smith carried the Firecrackers in the first half, it was the scoring of Briggs (11pts in the second half) and Lux (9pts in the second half) that provided the difference in the second. It was a major step forward from the first game with contributions by all and, as in the past, a “team” win. Won 56-48.

On Sunday morning the team had a pre-7am wake up call for an 8am game against the Long Island Lightning. This is a program (LI Lightning) that the Firecrackers have never beaten. The 15U team lost to them in 7th grade in the Super Regional Pool Play ( by 2pts) and the Championship Game (by 3pts), and last year in the Gym Rat Semi-Final (15U team) by 8pts. In addition, the 14U team has lost to their younger team 2 or 3 times. This game was against their 16U team. (According to their coach their 15U team is really good and is the best team in their program.) Suffice to say, the LI Lightning program has had their way with the Firecrackers over the years.

The Firecrackers knew what to expect and were up to the challenge. It was a fast- paced game with a lot of aggressive defense that saw the Firecracker team up by 3 at the half. Clement scored 8pts (10pts for the game) of the teams 20 in the first half. The Lightning were ateam where we had a size advantage, but they presented match-up problems due to their perimeter speed and quickness. They ran a dribble drive offence, with 5 players outside the 3 pt arc. This put a lot of pressure on the Firecracker bigs having to go out and defend. A few adjustments were made at half time with some success and the team’s defensive pressure was excellent.  Unlike the first game, the Firecrackers closed out the game with good execution and hitting their foul shots. Briggs and Smith combined for 14 of the teams 18 second half points as the Firecrackers won by 4. Davenport led the team with 9 rebounds and Smith/Lux/Maloney had 5 each. Starbird and Frost played their best defensive games, but found it difficult to get good looks at the basket given the perimeter pressure being applied. Won 38-34

The last game of the weekend came against Team CT. This particular team sat in a 2-3 zone and perhaps due to that Firecrackers came out very sluggishly. There were lazy passes and a team not prepared to play. This resulted in 3 quick buckets by Team CT and a timeout for the Firecrackers. The coaches explained the need to force tempo, play at a fast pace, but if we do have to play in the half court, we need to make several passes before we shoot. What happened from that point forward was reminiscent of the Firecrackers of last July with lock down defensive pressure and a more aggressive and confident team offensively. Clement went off in the first half with 19 pts (three 3pointers). This was the result of excellent ball movement on the perimeter, and outstanding interior kick-outs by Smith, Davenport, Maloney, and Lux. At the half the Firecrackers had a 10 point lead. As the second half started, the team was able to expand our lead which forced Team CT to match up man-to-man. Once that happened the flood gates opened as the before-mentioned post crew of Smith( 11 rebs), Davenport (7rebs), Maloney (4 rebs), and Lux (4rebs) just wore down their counterparts with 16 total points of aggressive inside play. Starbird found the range from the outside with 8pts and some great steals. Briggs finished with 9pts and some nice interior passes and Frost seemed like she got her hands on every pass. The final was a 30pt win by the Firecrackers. Won 61-31.

What started out with a very frustrating and disappointing performance, ended up being a very productive weekend. The team got pushed around, but came together as a group and hopefully they are starting to find our stride as the Firecrackers head to Virginia on Wednesday (Boo Williams). The competition there is very good, it is a grind and the team will need to bring it’s energy and aggressive mentality, as well as the ability to execute when it counts. These are things that the Firecrackers have built our reputation on over the years. With that said, the team is looking forward to next weekend with hopes of continuing to improve, and  knowing that they will need to be at our best to have success.