THe 14 and under girls finished with a 3-2 record at the Jr. National in Washington D.C.. THe girls opened with the NY Explosian a national team from Queens, N.Y. The girls played very hard before falling 55-32. Erin O'Brien 8 points and Shannon Hughes scored 7. Next up was Montreal SUn youth which resultedin a 57-36 win. Shannon DOugherty scored 11 points, Megan Heldwein scored 9 and Jamie Warren added 8 points apiece. The girls then defeated Team Connecticut 53-32. O'Brien and Dougherty scored 11 points apiece. Sarah Federco scored 7 points and tracked down every loose ball. Warren and Sarah Pawlak scored 6 points apiece. The team then dropped a decision to the Connecticut Heat 49-30 as cold shooting spelled doom. Dougherty scored 9 points and O'Brien and Marissa Boniszewski scored 5 points apiece. The team then closed the tourney with a 39-37 victory over the Massachusetts Heat. Erin O'Brien continued her steller play scoring 15 points and running the show on offense. Jamie Warren and Julie Hagner led a late comeback from a 8 point deficet scoring 7 points apiece. Hagner's 3 pointer put the team ahead to stay 38-37 and Warren added a late free throw for the final margin. THe girls finished a successful season with a 26 & 12 record, losing just 1 game all season against Western New York teams. Other team member's included Casey Franz & Bridgit Andrews.

The girls they played the Collegeville Jags from near Philadelphia and overcame a early 13 point deficet and defeated the Jags 45-37. Three pointers by Brianna Smith and Maria Kotas at the buzzer closed the first half deficet to 2 points. Shannon Dougherty, Julie Hagner and Megan Heldwein scored 7 points apiece. Erin Obrien scored 6 points and Kotas and Smith added 5 points apiece in the balnced attack. The team then avenged a loss from the previous year in defeating the N.J. Mavericks 43-37. Heldwein dominated at both ends of the court scoring 11 points, 9 in the second halfand added 12 rebounds. Maria Kotas scored 9 points. THe game of the tournament may of been the 70-63 loss to the Lower Delco Wildcats from Philadelphia.The girls down 18 in the first half battled and missed 2 late three pointers which would of tied the game before fouling led to the final deficet. A total of 46 fouls were called in the game. Megan Heldwein scored 13 points, Shannon Dougherty 11 and Brianna Smith scored 10 points. Erin Obrien 3 three pointers led to her 9 points and had 7 assists. THe team closed the tournament with a 47-36 to the pool champions Comets from Philadelphia. The girls were down 7 with a minute to go. Julie Hagner scored 11 points. It was a vast improvement from last year and leaves the girls record at 23-10 for the season, with 9 of the losses to teams outside the area. The next tournament will be the USJN National Championship in Washington D.C. at the end of the month.

Buffalo Defenders 14 and under trip to Penn State ended in a 4-5 record. They opened against the WBA Knicks from Westchester County and dropped a 47-34 decision. The team led 19-16 at halftime, and for a large part of the second half before faltering. Shannon Dougherty scored 11 points and Megan Heldwein added 8. The team then played the Renegades from Philadelphia and dropped a 40-35 decision. A slow start led to a 11 point halftime deficet which could not be overcome. Dougherty scored 10 points and Marissa Boniszewski added 6 points. THe third game led to the teams first victory against the CT. Spirit by a 41-34 score. Shannon Dougherty scored 14 and Meg Heldwein added 9 points. THe team dropped a 33-30 decision to Triple Threat from the NYC area. A back and forth game and a questionable late game call doomed the squad. Megan Heldwein scored 12 points in a dominating performance at both ends of the court. Erin Obrien chipped in with 5. The Defenders then brought their record to 2-3 with a 48-42 win against a pesky Pa. Blue Thunder team. A balanced attack led by Jamie Warren 10 points and 10 rebounds. Erin Obrien and Brianna Smith scored 8 points apiece. Sarah Federico strong game added 7 to the win.

After leading much of the game during the 3rd round of bracket play, the Defenders suffered their most painful loss of the tourney as the Missouri Liberty Trailblazers made a late comeback to beat us 53-50. Our girls played extremely well all week against some of the best competition in the country, with three of our four losses by 4 points or less. The AAU National tournament was an outstanding experience for our team and we feel very fortunate to have received a bid and be a part of this elite field of 32 teams. Our goal for next year is to make it to the 13u AAU National Championships in Tennessee!

The Defenders suffered a tough loss, 39-36, in the opening round of bracket play on Monday to the NY Pride from Westchester, NY. After going up 36-35 with under a minute, the Pride hit a big shot to take a 37-36 lead with less than 30 seconds remaining. We had a good look in the closing seconds, but couldn't get it to drop, and were then forced to foul.

Facing elimination on Tuesday, the Defenders played an outstanding game against the Fairfax (VA) Stars. Leading 37-31 with less than 4 minutes remaining, we went on a 14-2 run to close out the win 51-33.

Todays opponent in the 3rd round of bracket play is the MO Trailblazers, who we lost to on Sunday in pool play 63-59.

After a heartbreaking loss on Sunday, 63-59, to the top-seeded team in our pool (Missouri Trailblazers), the Defenders will enter bracket play and face the NY Pride from Westchester, NY. After pool play, the Defenders are 1 and 2 with a win against the MN Thunder and losses to the Baltimore Cougars and MO Trailblazers. The competition at this level is outstanding and it's giving our girls an opportunity to meet players from many states throughout the country. The website with schedules, teams, and results is: http://www.bloomingtonmn.org/game-info.asp

Location: Cardinal O'Hara High School

Date: Monday (7/2/7)
Time: 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Date: Tuesday (7/3/7)
Time: 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Date: Wednesday (7/4/7)
Time: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Playing without two starters this weekend the 16U team went 1 - 3. The lone victory was earned in overtime and came in the first game of the tournament. Lauren Barrett put on an awesome display of determination, passion, and effort by producing her second double-double of the season, with 17 rebounds and 16 points. But it was Dyana William who stoled the show in the over-time by scoring 4 of the teams 6 points, along with a key steal and offensive rebound.

THe 14 and under girls have a 19-5 record on this AAU season. Results by tourney.
Chief Williams - 3-1 defeated Niagara Rapids (Devalle), Niagara PAL, Storm (Salisbury), loss to Storm (Deren).
Sub Regional held at Canisius College (3-1). Defeated Empire Dragons, Dayton Metro, Rapids (Fronkowiak), lost in final to Kitchener Lightning.
Erie Saints (2-1)- Defeated Storm (Miller), Crawford County, lost to North Allegany Tigers.
Rochester Warriors May Madness (4-0)- Torney Champs. Defeated WNY Lakers, Rochester Warriors, Unity Wildcats & Rapids (Fronkowiak).
Rapids Rumble (3-1) Defeated WNY Lakers, Storm (Deren), Unity Wildcats, lost to tourney champs Elmira Lady Express.
Carrier Dome Pre Nationals (4-1) Defeated ALbany Falcons, HV Titans, Syracuse Stars, Unity, lost to Blessed Sacrament.
Other note - 7-1 vs Buffalo area teams and only 2 losses vs, New York State teams.

The Defenders 14 and under blue team went 4-1 in the Pre National tournament held in Syracuse, N.Y.. THe girls won their pool defeating Albany Falcons, Hudson Valley Titans, Syracuse Stars and Unity Wildcats. The girls lost in the semi-final's to Blessed Sacrament, The Ontario National Champs by 8. Good job by all the girls.

Though the 16U team suffered four straight defeats against very good opponents at the Syracuse Carrier Dome Pre-Nationals, they came away with their pride intact and loads of respect from tournament officials. Losing by double digits each of the first three (3)games of any tournament usually means going through the motions and limping home on the last day. But not for this team. Playing an inspired, passionate and intense game against Rome Spangle our 16U team, almost pulled the game out. At the end of the game, during the customary sportsmanship shaking of hands between the teams, one of the game referees went into the Spangle teams line and personally greeted each of our 16U players. At the end of the line he greeted Coach Kanalley with a hand shake and complimented the team for putting out a great non-stop effort, right to the last second. He also remarked if some of the boy's teams put out the same type of effort the tournament would have been a total success.

The 16U team dropped all 4 games at the GV Fillies tournament. The good news is the team came out of the weekend, healthy and wiser. Practice this week will be held at Cardinal O'Hara High School on Tuesday night (6/12/07) from 6 pm - 8 pm. Everyone is looking forward to this weekends tournament in Syracuse.

The 12u team posted a 4 and 0 record at the GV Fillies Tournament to win the 13u 'Blue' Division. The girls had wins over Niagara PAL, Rochester Warriors, Unity Wildcats, and Seneca Falls Blue Devils enroute to the championship. This was the sixth tournament championship for the 12u team this year. The final tournament they will be participating in is the 12u National Division II tournament in Bloomington, MN later this month.

The 12U Blue Team made an outstanding effort in the Rochester Warriors Tournament. We ended up 2 and 2, taking 2nd place in the 13U Blue division. The girls played extremely well all weekend, especially the way they battled the two 13U 'A' teams!!

The 12U Blue team was sensational all weekend, winning their pool with a 3 and 0 record before falling in the championship game to an outstanding Erie Saints team.

BD 51 - PA Storm 30

BD 46 - Erie Elite 24

BD 43 - Girard 19

Erie Saints 62 - BD 51

The 13U Blue team played outstanding in the Erie Saints 'A' bracket ending up 2 and 1, and just falling short of a bid to the championship round.

BD 40 - WNY Shooting Stars 28

BD 39 - Central PA Running Rebels 14

Pittsburgh Hawks 49 - BD 44

Thanks to Coach Reinholz and Sammie Wozniak, Chloe Wingerter, Bridget Andrews, Sarah Pawlak and Kylie Reinholz for contributing last weekend. Coach John you should be very proud of the girls for the way they performed.

The girls then rebounded and overcame a 17 point second half deficet in defeating Unity 58-51. Chloe Wingerter scored 15 of her game high 20 points in the second half. Shannon Dougherty and Julie Hagner scored 8 points apiece. Maria Kotas 10 steals sparked a tenacious defense to go with her 7 points and 5 assists. Bridgit Andrews 3 pointer put the team ahead for good. Sarah Pawlak 15 rebounds led a strong board game. The girls record is 15-4 during this AAU season.

On sunday the girls could not overcome poor shooting and the loss of Meagan Heldwein to the flu in losing to the eventual champions Elmira Lady Express 54-29. Sarah Pawlak had 10 points and Julie Hagner chipped in with 9. Sarah Federico had 10 rebounds.

Coach Dougherty's 14 and under team went 3-1 at the N.Y.S. Championships which were held in Buffalo. The girls opened the tournament with a 53-33 win over the Lady Laker's from Rochester. Meagan Heldwein scored 15 points and Sarah Pawlak chipped in 12. The girl's then defeated the Buffalo Storm 48-41 overcoming a 7 point half time deficit. Shannon Dougherty led the way with 17, and Sarah Pawlak added 9 points. Erin O'Brien scored 4 points and had 6 assists.