Gators hoops win first seven games
OAKLAND – The best ballers of Brownell Academy and South Valley Junior High are proving to be the area’s elite as the Gilroy Gators basketball team opened its season on a seven-game winning streak.
The local AAU select team is undefeated in the prestigious Oakland Slam-N-Jam League – made up of the most prominent young hoopsters around.
The Gators took sole possession of first place last weekend with an impressive 56-48 victory over the Vallejo Trotters. Up next, the Gators will compete in a weekend tournament in Santa Cruz.
The local squad – which was established by head coach Ed Jensen and is being used as a feeder program into the Gilroy High basketball program – has picked apart each of its opponents. Jenson summarizes the first seven wins:
Gators 48, Larkspur Magic 32
–Kameron Handy led the way in this game in points and rebounds.
Gators 34 Marin True Players 28
–The True Players started a six-foot-four and a six-foot-three player. Jacob Dexter played very well, while leading the team in assists and steals.
Gators 44, El Cerrito Showtime 38
–Showtime had a very big and very athletic team. David Alejo for the Gators was the team leader in points and rebounds. Kameron Handy had another big game for the Gators as well.
Gators 43 Oakland Rebels 38
–This was a very tough and physical game. Ryan Costa, Christian Lamb and Kendrick Azuetta had very strong games for the Gators. Derek Jensen was the high-point man for the Gators.
Gators 41 Marin True Players 33
–The Gators team defense was amazing in the second half – limiting the True Players to 11 points. Jacob Dexter led the team in steals and assists.
Gators 52 Oakland Soldiers 41
–This was the biggest win yet for the Gators. Year in and year out, the Oakland Soldiers are the top AAU travel team on the West Coast. They were undefeated until they met up with the Gators. The Gators once again received outstanding performances from all of their players. The Gators, with their strong man-to-man defense, held the Soldiers to just 10 points in the first half. The Gators had players diving all over the floor for loose balls, executing their offense to perfection and playing very physical basketball. Even though the Soldiers started a near six-foot-five center and two forwards standing at six-foot-two, the Gators won the battle on the glass. Once again, this was a complete team victory as everyone played extremely well.
The Gators have a number of AAU tournaments lined up between now and December. They have been invited to play in the Nike All-American Tournament in Las Vegas in July. They will be playing in the AAU National Qualifier in Reno at the end of May. They have also been invited to compete in the International World Games in Hawaii in June. And there are a number of additional tournaments that are more local throughout California.
Please visit the Gator Hoops web site at: www.GilroyGators.com. Please learn more about the program and the current fund raising opportunities that are greatly needed to assist these young players and their schedule.
