Sparks Finish 11th at the Penn State
USA Invitational
Monday, July 12, 2010
Tournaments
The
Saratoga
Sparks 16U team traveled to State College PA this past week and
finished up their 2010 campaign by finishing 11th out of the 64
teams in the Southern Bracket of the Bluechip USA Invitational
Tournament. The Sparks finished with a 4-2 record while turning the
heads of many college coaches.
Niskayuna’s Ashley McCaughan, Shenendehowa’s Megan Rogers and Mandi
Edick and Queensbury’s Alexis Perryman were all named game
MVP’s.
The week was terrific for the Sparks who spent much of the season
being haunted by their coach about the importance of winning the
first game of the tournament. Pressure was applied at every
practice and a website was created as a constant reminder that
winning the first game at Penn State would split the tournament
field in half, assuring the Sparks games against the best
competition in their bracket.

The pressure
paid dividends, not only did the Sparks beat Spain 41-29 in the
first round, but they dumped the PA Thunder 57-37 in the second
game on their way to securing a 4-2 tournament record and an 11th
place finish.
There were several outstanding performances during the six game
tourney. Niskayuna’s Ashley McCaughan, Shenendehowa’s Megan
Rogers and Mandi Edick and Queensbury’s Alexis Perryman were all
named game MVP’s. Putting individual efforts aside, it was a
complete team effort. The guard play of McCaughan, Cohoes’s Bailei
Tetrault, Scotia’s Kalia Sanboeuf and Shenendehowa’s Maggie Smith
produced scoring opportunities and applied pressure defense in
every game. They were the sparks that started the engine.
Cohoes’s Danielle Beauchamp, and Scotia’s Danielle Conley were able
to contribute at multiple positions providing scoring, rebounding
and fast break opportunities that more often then not provided the
Sparks with leads or slammed the door shut on their
opponents.
Burnt Hill’s Junior Kelly Maher played the best ball of the season
at Penn State providing solid defense and much needed rebounding.
The post was covered between Ballston Spa’s Taylor Whyte and
Shaker’s Mallory Dickson. The two battled in every game and gave
the Sparks the strength in the middle that was necessary to make a
successful run at Penn State.
Over all the week was fantastic. The Sparks played great and
displayed confidence in themselves and thier teammates that turned
the heads of many college coaches watching. As the coaching staff
stressed all season,
“College coaches are looking for players
that display a love and respect for the game, their teammates and
themselves, players that a college coach would want to spend four
years with" shared Coach Fazio.
“I’m certain that there
are coaches this morning preparing letters of interest with thier
names on them. In our last game together against the
Hunterdon United, every player scored and it was a complete team
victory, it should serve as a great memory for you of this team and
its many accomplishments. You were all presented with a great
opportunity this season to shine and you all made the most of it,
particularly this past week.” shared Coach Turner
Coach’s Note:
I would also like to thank each of your parents for their support
of this team. The "TEAM" concept did not end with the players. It
carried off the court, and on to the streets. It was refreshing to
watch your parents enjoy the success of the team and not just focus
on individual accomplishments. If you haven't done so... they
deserve a big hug and an "I love you" After all, I hugged most of
them Wednesday night at Champs during the team party so it wouldn't
kill you to hug them as well.
Tags: Penn State Mandy Edick
Megan
Rogers Maggie Smith Bailei Tetrault Kalia
Sanboeuf Alexis Perryman Danielle Beauchamp Ashley McCaughan Mallory
Dickson Taylor Whyte Kelly Maher Danielle Conley