News and Announcements
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Sweet 16 FINISH!!! |
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(KB - 07/30/06) The Orlando Comets Red 14U finished tied for ninth place at AAU 14U Nationals in Lafayette, LA this past week. After making it to the Sweet 16, the Comets were ousted from the national tourney, 61-53, by the NJ Crusaders. But that loss doesn't obscure the fact that the Red team had a great run in Lafayette. The Red team has sewn the seeds for a better run in the years to come. The Comets 14U team proved that they can run with the big dogs in Lafayette. Their guard play was solid and sometimes spectacular. Leo Montalvo led a savvy crew of sharpshooters that picked defenses apart from the wing or with quick passes into the post. The Itajahy twins, Melanie and Lianni, played great defense. Deaundre Young, Jenn Knurek and Isabel Ehrli played strong in the post, while Tera McDaniel and Asia Dacosta were solid reserves. And what more can we say about Kasie Berry that hasn't already been said? Kasie was having a dynamite week before she was injured in the Georgia Pistols game. Her scoring, rebounding and energetic play invigorates the team. The Comets now have two Sweet 16 teams in their organization. That's a great start for creating a national profile for Florida girls basketball. We want to congratulate the Red team and their coaches, Harry Montalvo and Joel Berry, for a great season and a bright future for this team!! |
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AAU NATIONAL CHAMPS!!!! |
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(KB - 07/18/06) The
Orlando Comets Red 16U team is the best AAU team in America.
They earned that distinction this afternoon with a 71-65 win over the
reigning AAU champions, Fencor, at the Disney Sports Complex.
The
Comets completed an 11-0 run over the course of the tourney and in the
process made history. No girls AAU team from Florida had ever
won an AAU national championship before today. Indeed,
the Comets fourth place finish here last year was the highest finish ever
for a Florida team. But
last year's fourth place finish sewed the seeds for this year's win.
As a 15U team, the Comets decided to forego 2005 15U AAU Nationals and
made plans to attend AAU 16U Nationals for three years in a row.
The rationale for this decision came from the fact that, after the 13U
age group, the 16U age group is the most popular for girls basketball.
Second, most of the college scouts attend AAU 16 Nationals, so the girls
would get maximum exposure. And third, it's right
here in town. Other than the $40 burgers at
the Milk House, the accommodations (our own homes) are relatively cheap. That
decision earned the Comets Red team a low seed at this tournament and the
toughest bracket draw. We had Fairfax, Philly
Rebels and MN North Tartan in our section of the bracket.
The toughness of the bracket made the Final Four games more amenable.
What could they bring that we hadn't already seen? Thus,
in the second year of a three year plan, the Comets won the AAU national
championship. This same Red team will return to AAU 16U
nationals for a third consecutive year in 2007.
Although several players will graduate, the Red team has enough junior
eligibles and upcoming 15U players to make a solid run next year, too. The
Red team's 2006 season is far from over, however.
There are two more tournaments left to navigate. The
Red team will travel to Atlanta on Saturday to compete in an Adidas
event. Then it's off to Nike Nationals and possible rematches
against Fencor and/or BWSL. We
congratulate the players, coaches and parents for a fine effort this
year!! We love those Comets!! DEEP!!
DEEP!! ....... DEEP! DEEP! Deep
down in our hearts!! Ohhhhhhhh, DEEP!!
DEEP! DEEP!! DEEP!! Deep down
in our hearts!!! |
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Comets Red Upset in Augusta Quarterfinals |
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(KB -
06/19/06) Sasha Chaplin, a 6'3" sophomore center from St. Pete Catholic, has
joined the Comets Red 16U. Chaplin fills a glaring need
for size in the post for the Red team. The Comets had been looking for an insurance policy and a successor for All-American center Krystal Thomas. Chaplin, who was the 3A state tournament MVP in 2006, fits that bill nicely. (The Red team now has 3 state tourney MVPs on their roster.) Chaplin
was at the top of the team's wish list during the 2006 season planning
sessions last winter. After the Greenwave failed to qualify for AAU nationals, Sasha became eligible to attend AAU Nationals with the Comets. Chaplin played her first tournament with the Red team at the Comets Gathering of Champions. In her first game (against the Florida Lady Ballerz), Sasha rang up 8 points and 8 rebounds. Pretty good for having had only one practice with the team. Welcome to the team, Sasha!! |
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Chandler McCabe - SG |
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