Firecrackers 14U Goes 3-0 at US Junior National Summerfest

The Maine Firecrackers 14u team travelled to UMass Lowell Saturday for US Jr National Summerfest in a one day event where each team plays 3 games. The Firecrackers jumped out to a 10-2 lead in their first game against the Vermont Heat with intense defensive pressure and led 21-14 behind 8 first half points from Ashley Storey. In the second half the Maine girls extended their lead to 35-25 with great play from Victoria Lux (game high 12 points). Nursing a seven point lead with a minute left, the game got interesting after a couple late 3’s by the heat but the Firecrackers hung on for a 37-36 win.

Game two pitted the Firecrackers against New England powerhouse Lone Wolf (VT). Ashley Storey was a force early in this game with 12 first half points to go with 5 rebounds and 2 blocks. Storey, Victoria Lux, and Jess Willerson were dominant on the glass the whole game while Sarah Clement hit 2 three balls to stretch the Lone Wolf zone. The first half ended with a nifty pass from Olivia Dalphonse to Lux to stretch the lead to ten points. Clement continued her hot shooting in the second half with 8 points and finished with a game high 14, the same tally as Storey, as the Firecrackers were deserved 48-37 winners. Katie McCrum added 5 points and along with Bailey Adams (5 steals) and Elizabeth Donato (3 steals), was a defensive force. McCrum was easily one of the best defenders at the entire tournament.

In the final game, the affects of 3 games in an extremely hot gym took their toll, as the Firecrackers missed 5 first half layups, allowing the New England Crusaders to hang within 8 at halftime. The Maine girls pulled away in the second half to cruise to a 48-33 win against a scrappy Crusader team. Storey had another strong game with 12 points and 6 rebounds while Sarah Clement (4 assists) and Victoria Lux (8 rebounds) each contributed 11 points. Abby Hamilton played a solid game with a couple long range shots to go with 4 rebounds and good defensive intensity. Dalphonse added 6 points and 4 assists, Bailey Adams 2 and another nice defensive effort, and McCrum had another good all around game.

Firecracker Clement has the next couple weeks off before heading to Washington DC for US Jr. Nationals