Lauren Jackson’s a forward? Diana Taurasi’s not on the list?
Well, that one’s easier to comprehend. The Phoenix Mercury forward was basically charged with triple DUI. Yikes!
EOT, ATL tournament results
Oregon City End of the Trail Tournament results and MVP list.
Fila Showtime National Championships results.
On those lists lies the future, ladies and gentlemen.
Reaction to Jenny Boucek firing
From this piece we find that:
– Boucek is taking the spiritual approach to her dismissal, which was a surprise to her.
– She won’t seek the LA Sparks job, or any WNBA job for right now.
– Storm player Sue Bird, and possibly some Monarchs, are upset about the move.
Coach Marianne Stanley in the spotlight
The guru interviews the longtime coach.
Oregon Ducks update
Team members find new Coach Paul Westhead’s energy “infectious.” Someone’s getting a “believe” tattoo.
Hey, this is sounding hopeful.
California summer games, July 14-15 at the HAX
Cal Sparks are putting on the tournament. Here’s their welcome announcement:
Welcome to Cal Sparks Tournaments !
Our Next Event
California Summer Games 2009
NCAA-Certified
July 14th and 15th
Hangar Athletic Xchange, Hawthorne CA.
HAX Parking slots will be prepaid by Cal Sparks and thus free to fans this event.
Overflow parking will be available on the Street in front of facility.
Daily Admission: $10 Children 10 and under Free.
4 Games Guaranteed All Teams
Some teams will play 5 Games.
Minimum 2 Games each day.
Invitational division bracket
Elite division bracket
Open division bracket
WOO!
Monarchs fire Coach Jenny Boucek
What a bunch of crap. Now John Whisenant is in charge again.
I really hope Sparks co-owners Kathy Goodman and Carla Christofferson are making a phone call tonight……….
Nike Say No Classic Summer Showcase, Day 2
Great day at USC for some hoops. In one gym was the high school division, and in the other, the college. As previously mentioned in this space, the college division includes local ballers of the D1, D2, D3, JC and just-graduated-from high school levels. This is the same modus de operandi followed in most such leagues across the country.
I went to see two games today, due to personal interest/affiliation with some on and/or staffing the teams. Today’s schedule is here. Organizers told me the full schedule will be posted Wednesday at www.lass.ws, and will include rosters.
UCLA’s (former) Tierra Henderson and (current) Darxia Morris chill during my game one. I think they played earlier.
Another Bruin, Moniquee Alexander, waits for her game to start (my game two), with Henderson.
UCLA forward and Seattle native Christina Nzekwe is on Fastbreak – the team I went to see play at 2 p.m.
……As is two-time LA All City Team member and current Umpqua Community College star Mykiea Russell.
Coach Colleen Matsuhara, aka “Love and Basketball” and current West LA College head coach, walks in with her St. Louis Final Four seat cushion. She showed me some pics taken at Vol world in Tennessee this past winter.
Nzekwe (blurry image on the right) wins the tip, as Russell (far left) looks on.
Fastbreak collapses toward the basket for the offensive rebound.
Another hot shot member of Fastbreak is Whitney Daniels (third from right), who just finished a stellar career at Mira Costa and is headed to the University of San Francisco this fall. This picture was late in the second half when all the starters were sitting, watching the bench players whoop on the opponents.
The 3 p.m. game featured the Show Stoppers, which included one of my favorite Bruins in Doreena Campbell.
Campbell (far left) watches Alexander (#12) post up for a pass. The Show Stoppers beat their opponents just as handily as did Fastbreak.
Going to these tournaments is like hitting the family reunion barbecue. Between saying hi to players, coaches and referees, it still amazes me what a small basketball world it is, even in a big city like LA. And I have no doubt the ball “families” in NY, DC, Chicago, etc, would say the same thing.
I know where I’ll be for the next several weekends.
Footnote: Jasmine Dixon was hanging out today. She’s obviously been hitting the weight room, because she’s ripped! And she said she’s really looking forward to playing again in December (when her year of sitting out is over).
Three 2-point games won at the last second?
Don’t know when was the last time we saw this kind of a nightly scoreboard/circumstance in the WNBA:
Detroit 79, Connecticut 77
New York 71, Atlanta 69
Phoenix 107, Sacramento 105
Katie Smith made a jumper with 6.3 seconds left in overtime to seal the win for the Shock.
The Liberty won on two free throws from Cathrine Kraayeveld.
The Mercury beat their opponents off of a time-expired shot by Temeka Johnson.
Good lord!
The only score with a substantial margin today was the Mystics defeat of the Sparks, 75-63. I have nothing to say about that one because I just don’t get it.
Big girls play summer ball too
Since today marks the commencement of one of the premier adult women’s basketball leagues in Los Angeles, I thought it was high time to link the NCAA-certified list of summer leagues. These leagues represent a prime opportunity for fans to see their favorite collegiate players in a competitive environment that isn’t their own team. Today there were numerous D1, 2, 3 and JC athletes ballin it up at USC.
Here are the NCAA guidelines for participation, as stated at the top of the above-linked page:
NCAA Division I student-athletes with remaining eligibility may participate in the following certified summer leagues only on the dates identified in the “Certified Dates” column and only after receiving Director of Athletics’ Permission. All Division I players must limit their competition to one team in one league (See:One Team, One League). If a student-athlete participates in a two-day activity those student-athletes cannot participate in any other organized basketball activity for the duration of the summer.
Leagues are listed in alphabetical order by the league name.
Note: League certification DOES NOT permit NCAA Division I basketball coaching staff members to attend. Please consult the list of certified events to identify those competitions that Division I coaches may attend.
Between the LA Summer Showcase and all the club ball team games I’m attending this month, I won’t be missing my WNBA team (out of town for a month) much right now.