BECKMANHIGH SCHOOL, IRVINE, CALIFORNIA – 30MAR2008 - Scene of the National Junior Basketball (NJB) Championship Tournament. The Almaden Valley NJB Chapter’s Sixth Grade Girls AllNet basketball team, GhostBusters, won in five straight victories to take the National Title.
Front row, left to right: Nina Mandracchia, Adriana Piazza, Sandy Liang, Caeli Harr, Sabrina Sherrin
Back row: Christine Dong, Nicole Johnston, Gabbie Sanfilippo, Kristin Pitzen
Coaches: Greg Pitzen, Sal Mandracchia, Greg Johnston
The road to First Place in the Rawling’s Division of the NJB tournament was a straight path for the GhostBusters from wire to wire in every game. The first four games by the AlmadenValley 6th grade girls invoked the ‘mercy’ rule starting the fourth period (if a team is ahead by twenty points in the fourth quarter, the game time becomes a running clock). The final victory over the Hanford, CA team for the Championship was by a margin of 13 points.
AllNet basketball is a competitive category of the NJB program. All-Net supports players with advanced skill, higher interest in the sport and an eye for a High School future in basketball. The rules follow the CIFHigh School standard with the addition of a ‘mercy’ rule. Four, eight minute periods make up the game and the clock stops on all whistles (except for an active mercy rule). There were three referees for the championship game.
The team was led by two point guards, Nicole Johnston and Kristin Pitzen, they have been teammates since Third grade in the NJB basketball program. As interchangeable point and shooting guards, they beat man-to-man and zone defenses alike on pick & roll and give & go’s. The pair accounted for 44%of the team’s points.
Gabriella Sanfilippo and Weishan (Sandy) Liang were point and shooting guards respectively. Gabby’s speed placed pressure on the opponents leading point player and she often took outlet passes coast to coast for layup baskets. Sandy’s defense and anticipation led to many turnovers and her midrange shooting was a foundation for the team’s offense. Unfortunately, Brianna Martin, shooting guard, did not make the trip.
Christine Dong, Adriana Piazza and Sabrina Sherrin were the GhostBuster’s power forwards.
Christine anchored the defense on the outside wing of the full court press and down low in the 2-3 zone defensive formation. Christine provided valuable offensive rebounds and put-backs. Also, her mid-range shot off the dribble gave herself many scoring opportunities. Adriana forced turnovers of the opponents when they were on transition from her pressure defense. Her offensive range drew the defense outward. Sabrina played power defense. Her assignments put the opponent’s center under tough pressure and out of their game. She shot from the outside baseline.
The center position was played by Nina Mandracchia and Caeli Harr. Nina jumped the start of the game and worked the center of their zone defense plus bodied the opponent’s big girl. She excelled at rebounds at both ends of the court. Her offense was balanced in shots and assists. Caeli pulled rebounds and looked for quick transition breaks or dribbled out of pressure when passing lanes were not open. She played the center of the 2-3 zone and denied easy baskets.
The GhostBusters finished league play with a 10 and 2 record. Following the league games, the tournament phase begins to determine the National champion. The Ghostbusters performed well and qualified to represent AlmadenValley’s NJB chapter in IrvineCalifornia for the National Tournament in the second division, ‘Rawlings’. Regular season Coach Art Fonda could not make the tournament and passed the reins to veteran Coach Greg Pitzen. Pitzen chose long-time coaching partner, Greg Johnston to support the team in Nationals.
Eleven teams competed in three Pools for the AllNet Girls 6th Grade bracket. Each Pool played games on Saturday to determine their standings for play and position on Sunday. GhostBusters remained in the winner’s bracket throughout the tournament.
The GhostBuster opponent’s in the Championship game were the Hanford Allstars. The Hanford team made it to the final game with impressive scoring. Throughout the tournament the Coaches played a three guard formation with a power forward and a big. After an offensive play, the GhostBuster’s go immediately to defense, full court. The pressure led to 8 points after forced turnovers. The team system applies full court pressure until the lead would build to 20 and then fall back to half court. However, the final game drew the most work from the players. A team benefit was a strong bench through all positions that enabled end-to-end defensive intensity with steady substitutions.
During the first quarter, the coaches made a GhostBuster system adjustment to keep the ball out of Hanford’s best player’s hands. The assignment was effectively handled by Gabbie, Sandy or Kristin. With two minutes left in the game, the Hanford Allstars put their second team on the floor. At the game ending whistle, GhostBusters, Coaches and parents rushed the court, proud and victorious. The drive back to San Jose was easy.
Pool Play
GhostBusters Vs Porterville Hotshots43 to 15
GhostBusters Vs CovinaValley Allstars49 to 27
GhostBusters Vs Fallbrook Lady Warriors45 to 25
Championship Semifinal
GhostBusters Vs Vallejo Explosion57 to 23
Championship
GhostBusters Vs Hanford Allstars42 to 29
Player PointsG1G2G3SEMIFINAL
______
Nicole Johnston5915814
Kristin Pitzen613101310
Nina Mandracchia28776
Gabby Sanfilippo9446-
Christine Dong43-5-
Sandy Liang38-22
Adriana Piazza41362
Sabrina Sherrin82456
Caeli Harr22261