Sparks Make Another Top 10 Finish at the AAU National Tournament
Thursday, September 01, 2011
The Sparks did this while averaging over 61 points a game. The Sparks were led in scoring by Colonie's Sydnie Rosales with 88 points and Scotia's Cassie Broadhead with 83. The Sparks were led in rebounds by Watervliet's Lashana Tolliver and Mikayla Deguire. Cassie also lead the team in assists with Bethlehem's Bridget Murphy a close second.
Because this was a live Division 1 viewing period Coach Mingione has received many calls from D-1 coaches about many players on the team. The coaches reported being very impressed not only with individual players but also with the team oriented approach of the players.
The team will continue its schedule with two Fall Tournaments during D-1 viewing period in October.
Sparks 16U Embarked on University Park
Monday, July 11, 2011
Sparks Take Adirondacks by Storm
Monday, May 30, 2011
by Sparks Staff Reporter Steve "The Scoop" Smitt
The Saratoga Sparks 8th grade team recently swept a weekend series to claim the Great Adirondack Shootout Championship hosted by the Northern Lites in Lake George. Inside the cozy confines of the Glens Falls YMCA, the Sparks were able to win all three of their scheduled preliminary games by double digit scores. The formula for winning was consistent throughout the tournament, build up early leads and play disciplined defense which proved to frustrate their opponents.
After cruising through their bracket it was on to Hudson Falls Middle School for the Championship game against the Fulton Montgomery Stars. The game did not start fast for the Sparks. Watching her team fall behind 5-0 to begin the game was more than Coach Pleasure could bare, she yanked the starting five off the court. The rafter echoed as the soft spoken coach shared the following message with her fresh troops "...and if you don't do any better, you'll be on the bench too...", The message was well received, the Sparks swarming and suffocating press limited the Stars to very few scoring opportunities as they cruised to a lopsided victory. The young Sparks outscored their opponents 173-84 over the Memorial Day weekend to claim their 2nd championship of the season.
The Saratoga Sparks 8th grade team recently swept a weekend series to claim the Great Adirondack Shootout Championship hosted by the Northern Lites in Lake George. Inside the cozy confines of the Glens Falls YMCA, the Sparks were able to win all three of their scheduled preliminary games by double digit scores. The formula for winning was consistent throughout the tournament, build up early leads and play disciplined defense which proved to frustrate their opponents.
After cruising through their bracket it was on to Hudson Falls Middle School for the Championship game against the Fulton Montgomery Stars. The game did not start fast for the Sparks. Watching her team fall behind 5-0 to begin the game was more than Coach Pleasure could bare, she yanked the starting five off the court. The rafter echoed as the soft spoken coach shared the following message with her fresh troops "...and if you don't do any better, you'll be on the bench too...", The message was well received, the Sparks swarming and suffocating press limited the Stars to very few scoring opportunities as they cruised to a lopsided victory. The young Sparks outscored their opponents 173-84 over the Memorial Day weekend to claim their 2nd championship of the season.
Sparks Earn Metals in Lake Placid
Monday, May 30, 2011
The Saratoga Sparks seventh grade team took a ride on north bound 87 last weekend to participate in the 2011 Lake Placid Primetime Challenge. The trip proved beneficial for the young Sparks as they edged out the Empire Nighthawks in a very exciting Championship game 25-24. The Sparks jumped out to early eight point lead, but the Nighthawks roared back in the second half and took a three point advantage of their own with less than three minutes to play. The Sparks once again rallied and made a couple of free throws to cut the margin. Their tenacious defense forced several turnovers during the last two minutes to secure the victory and the Championship. The Sparks were undefeated during the weekend and posting a perfect 4-0 record.
Pictured: Front Row Left to Right: Natalia Carmon, Madison Borden, Paige Francesconi, Julia Marino, Colleen Doiron
Back Row: Charlee Pollard, Ariana Chillis, Kendall Ackner, Erika Ryan, Faith Gilbert, Gigi Flint.
Not Pictured: Llayla Nayar Head Coach Todd Doiron and Assistant Coaches Carey Ryan and Mike Borden.
Pictured: Front Row Left to Right: Natalia Carmon, Madison Borden, Paige Francesconi, Julia Marino, Colleen Doiron
Back Row: Charlee Pollard, Ariana Chillis, Kendall Ackner, Erika Ryan, Faith Gilbert, Gigi Flint.
Not Pictured: Llayla Nayar Head Coach Todd Doiron and Assistant Coaches Carey Ryan and Mike Borden.
Sparks raise money for Coaches vs. Cancer.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
The Saratoga Sparks 6th Grade Team pictured below after winning the Albany Redhawk Rumble. The team is pictured with the donation check being made in the team’s honor to the Coaches vs. Cancer Foundation. The team went 5-0 in the tournament running its season record to 20-3.
Pictured left to right: Front: Sarah Kowaleski, Devin Davidson, Abby Green, Kelsey Cirincione, Julianna Taylor, Cameron Tooley. Back: Head Coach John Ricci, Julia Zachgo, Bethany Pochobradski, Sondra Slepski, Mikayla Spiak, Caitlyn Estes, Sarah Ricci, Assistant Coach Martina Tooley.
Pictured left to right: Front: Sarah Kowaleski, Devin Davidson, Abby Green, Kelsey Cirincione, Julianna Taylor, Cameron Tooley. Back: Head Coach John Ricci, Julia Zachgo, Bethany Pochobradski, Sondra Slepski, Mikayla Spiak, Caitlyn Estes, Sarah Ricci, Assistant Coach Martina Tooley.
Sparks Starting to Gell as Season Moves Forward
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
After breezing through their first two games and pulling out a nail-biter to improve to 3-0, the smaller, but very athletic Sparks were pitted against the well polished and physically larger foe in the Lady Knuckleheads of Binghamton, New York. Tenacious defense and quick and skillful drives to the basket, along with and great foul shooting brought the girls back from a double-digit hole. Coach Pleasure's plan to have the girls take the ball hard to the hoop resulted in foul shot opportunities and eventually two less Knuckleheads. Bodies were hitting the floor at both ends of the court and the Sparks rallied to a 49-47 victory.
Pictured above: from upper left-Coach Pleasure, Talia Segal, Macie Holmes, Camryn David, Lauren Canterbury, Nicole Conley, Maggie Stalter and Asst. Coach Hopkins. From lower left-Taylor Murphy, Emily Patchell, Maya Lewis and Amanda Lee. Missing were Mikayla Lansing and Meghan Malone.
Sparks Earn Split at the Northeast Elite Fall Ball College Showcase
Sunday, October 03, 2010
Sparks Finish 11th at the Penn State USA Invitational
Saturday, July 24, 2010
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.
Read More...
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.
Read More...Sparks 14’s Finish 6th at the AAU Nationals
Saturday, July 24, 2010
The Saratoga Sparks 14U basketball team took sixth place in the 2010 AAU Girls Basketball National Championship Tournament held July 6-10 at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando, Florida. The team is comprised of Section II freshmen players who finished their regular AAU season undefeated with 30 wins. At the National Tournament, the Sparks were 5 and 3 against a field of 40 of the best teams in the United States. The Sparks are the first local team in recent memory to finish this high in the AAU National Championship Tournament. The Sparks advanced all the way to the Elite Eight round.
Read More...
Strong Team Play Lifts Sparks To Title
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Gym Ray Challenge Website: The Saratoga Sparks 14-under division team came to Sunday's games at the GymRat Challenge tournament without its head coach as Tony Mingione missed the event for a family function, and without one of its better players, whose opts not to play in Sunday games due to religious reasons.
But those seeming handicaps did nothing to derail the championship run of the Saratoga Sparks, who used strong overall team play and a well-designed strategy to advance to Sunday night's championship contest of the 6th annual GymRat CHALLENGE for girls where it earned a 56-40 victory over the New York Gauchos. Read More...
Sparks Sweep Late Game Heroics Define Weekend
Saturday, June 05, 2010
