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SoCalHoops Tournament News

Jason Day: 4 "D" Labor Day
Tournament Notes--(Sept. 5, 1998)

He' baaaaacccckkk. And we were probably the most flabbergasted to find that our friend and correspondent has now become affiliated with Ultra Student Athletes, a fine program featuring traveling teams, which focuses on student education, computer literacy and college preparation, a program which maintains high academic requirements for all players who play on their teams. Well, we happened to be perusing the USA website tonight, looking for information on some of the Blue Team USA players , and lo and behold, there it was, an article written by our old friend and correspondent, Jason Day, who covered many of the games played "over the hill", i.e., in the LA, Long Beach, and South Bay areas when we couldn't get there ourselves last year. And those of you who know Jason will recall that he doesn't often pull any punches when analyzing games. Remember, we still have a complete archive of all of Jason's articles from last year, and we're pretty sure that you'll be reading his stuff again this year. But for now, here's the article we found over at Ultra Student Athletes Online:

Friday September 4, 1998

4D STARS RUIN JV-RED DEBUT 83-66
By Jason Day
SoCalHoops & Ultra Student Athletes Correspondent

USA's newest team, the JV-Red squad, made their debut this afternoon at Leuzinger High School. Playing in the opening round of the 4D-Stars Labor Day Tournament, the USA Red team took on 4D's own JV team. There was talk going into the game, about an all USA final that would see the Blue team playing the Red for the championship. The 4D team had other ideas. Well, maybe the Red team will end up in the Consolation Championship, while the Blue team plays in the the Championship game.

It was a great basketball game, but 4D was the better team today, as they came back from trailing for most of the game to win by 17. Believe me, it was a much closer game than the final score might indicate.

This was essentially the same 4D squad, except for a new big man from Verbum Dei's Varsity squad named Earl, that lost in double overtime to the USA Blue team last week. That win gave the Blue team the JV summer championship and the #1 seed for this tourney.

While the USA Red team played without Blake Walker and Daniel Malwah (both have apparently decided to play elsewhere) and John Woodard (unknown reasons), the team served notice that they are already a group to be respected. Even though two of the unexpectedly open slots were filled by a freshman, and an eighth grader, USA gave the tournament's #2 seed all they could handle and then some. David Cooper and David Gale who were both added to the squad last night, ironically had just played together in games last year with ARC. Neither one knew the other had signed on to fill out the roster for us this weekend.

Gale, a very poised point, who will play Varsity ball for Buckley this season, made a strong showing that impressed everyone familiar with the tough position he was thrust into. When starter, Eric Jones got winded, Gale stepped in as if he'd been playing with these guys forever. Quite a feat considering Jones was impressing everyone with his considerable skills and felt comfortable turning the point over to the young Gale.

Cooper, who is growing almost before our eyes, is the nephew of Donovan Green, a USA Director, and played some important minutes on the wing to rest our starters.

Strong games from, Jones, big man, Vincent Williams, and wings, John McGee, and Marcus Roberson had the team in a great position to win. A strong and consistent defensive game by Lester Clay along with Jones' court leadership seemed to be the final pieces to the puzzle.

Well, it wasn't meant to be today. But I'm telling you right now. This is the next strong USA team. They'll be giving the competition fits by the beginning of the spring traveling season. You heard it here first. The Red team plays the OC Bulls at Leuzinger tomorrow afternoon at 2:50. The Blue team opens their tournament run against Future Stars (the Long Beach version, not the San Diego version) tomorrow morning at 11:20.

Jason Day

And as a postscript to Jason's article, both USA teams won today (Saturday) and they will advance towards their respective championship rounds, the Blue in the upper "top" Championship bracket, while the Red team works it's way toward the Consolation Final. We'll have more tomorrow on this tournament.