Announcement
 (KB - 03/17/06) Comets Red guard Briyana Blair had surgery to repair a ligament in her right shoulder this past Monday. She will be out of the lineup until early July.
Briyana injured her shoulder during the high school season but fought thru the pain and led Boone High school to a berth in the Final Four. Her surgery re-attached a ligament that held her shoulder in place. Briyana will undergo rehabilitation that will keep her sidelined for the bulk of the AAU season. In her place the Comets have tapped Jordan Coleman and Samantha Shields. But even so, the team may have to endure spotty attendance. Coleman is committed to her high school track team until at least early May. She will miss several pool play Saturdays this spring as the Comets basketball schedule conflicts with her track team schedule. Coleman will not attend the Comets Saturday games at the Tallahassee Essence Classic next week, but will be there on Sunday. In other Comets news, we now understand that Katrece Rollins will not be with Red team this year after all. Early reports had indicated that Rollins was set to join the team after finishing the school year in Atlanta. Last year's backup center, Lauren Thomas, has been slated to play for the Comets Next Level 15U team. This leaves the Comets woefully short of centers. The Comets Red recruited 6'2" sophomore Sasha Chaplin of St. Petersburg Catholic to fill the spot, but the initiative fell through. Various reports have the Comets Red negotiating to secure the services of a top center from South Florida but nothing concrete has materialized. Jamie Givens can play center for a few possessions. So can Jordan Coleman. But neither of these girls has the height or bulk to compete in the post for a full AAU season if Krystal Thomas is injured. The Red team is continuing to address this issue.  The Comets Blue team is reporting delight with the addition of Charles Hardy to their coaching staff. Hardy is installing offensive and defensive innovations that has the team salivating to take on all comers. With the loss of Laquita Curry, the Blue team looked to be in the same position as the Red team vis a vis their post players. But the Blue team retains two true post players--Brittany Waters and Jelana Childs--and Hardy's innovations are maximizing their talents. We look to see the Blue team make some noise this year. The Comets Fusion 15U team is picking up where the Miracle 13U left off. Coaches Kim Bivins and Faye Robinson have inserted Lauren Thomas at the center and have been pleasantly surprised at her offensive production. Lauren has always been known as a primarily defensive player. Pairing Thomas with Ayiesha Vickers in the post gives the 15U team an imposing inside presence. Andrea and Andrell Smith give the team speed to burn. Jessica Bivins is slowly working her way back into shape after incurring an ACL injury in early November. She should be ready to play in the next few weeks. The Comets Fusion have three-point shooting in Katie Gordon and Erin Knight. Pensacola's Bianca Lutley may join the team at point guard once the high school year is complete. Once again Faye and Kim have put together a well rounded team. Harry Montalvo's Comets 14U team has brought in high powered help in the form of proven players. Ex-GGG players Jennifer Mossor and Lacey Lyons show up at practice to put Harry's girls through their paces. Twice-a-week scrimmages against the older Comets' teams ain't hurtin' them either. All in all, the Comets are preparing to unleash superbly honed teams once the AAU season starts in Tallahassee next week. |
