CAVS FINISH SECOND AT X LEVEL INVITATIONAL
The last time the Cavs touched the floor, in 2011, they ended a legendary run with a Championship! The Cavs returned after a long 6 year hibernation and picked up where they left off fighting their way to the Championship game where they fell just short of a championship to the Seminole Dream. Led by Winter Haven HS sophomore guard Shardajah Collins who averaged 17.7pts, 5ast, and 5stl per game, the Cavs were relentless on the defensive end and efficient enough offensively to win through to the championship game. In the semifinal game v/s 4Real Sports Academy, Collins came out in a fury scoring 8 of her game high 15pts in the first quarter pushing the Cavs to a 12 pt lead that they would never relinquish. The Cavs maintained their poise behind the all around play of Winter Haven HS freshman combo Marah Marlow (12pts, 8 reb), defensive energy of Lakeland HS junior forward Millie Jones, and the clutch play of Winter Haven HS sophomore guard Faith Fields who carried the Cavs down the stretch scoring all of her 10 pts in the second half in addition to her 5 steals. The Cavs led by as much as 24 pts before 4Real Sports Academy made a strong run in the fourth quarter cutting the Cavs lead to 9. When the momentum shifted from the Cavs, Winter Haven junior guard Shaniyah Mitchell, who was the spark plug throughout, took over nailing a three pointer that began a 10-0 run by the Cavs, a run where Mitchell orchestrated the young Cavs through the final 2 minutes of the game to send the Cavs to a 50-31 win and a seat in the championship game.
In the championship game, the Cavs' youth and inexperience fell victim to a solid Seminole Dream team that has played together for years and used their familiarity and experience to their advantage. The Cavs fought from the beginning leading 20-16 with 1:34 left in the first half before the Dream went on a 13-2 run to end the half. The Cavs were led by Collins who scored a game high 18pts. Marlow added 9pts and 7 reb for the Cavs who finished in an astounding second place in their first tournament back!!
The Cavs return to action in the Tournament of Champions on Saturday, April 22 v/s Jacksonville Hawks in Clearwater.
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CAVS WIN TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS!!!
TAMPA- The Lady Cavs entered into the Tournament of Champions with one goal: Don't Let Up! In their second tournament of the season, the Cavs picked up where they left off by blitzing through the field of teams at the USSSA Tournament of Champions en route to a second championship in as many events thus far in this early part of the season.
The Cavs received significant contributions throughout the weekend from every team member on the roster as they compiled a 5-0 standing in the tournament giving them a 10-0 record for the season. In the first game, the Cavs faced the Daytona Beach Gophers. Playing without Clearwater junior guard Victoria Cecil, the Cavs' guards stepped up and filled the void. Gibsonton East Bay sophomore guard Dasia Daniels and New Port Richey Mitchell junior guard LaShe Kirkland each scored 8 points and combined with the inside tandem of Tampa Memorial Middle eighth grade post Erica Young, who finished with 10pts 9rebs 3blks, and New Port Richey Gulf junior forward Kianna Mills, who added 10pts 7rebs, to lead the Cavs to a 60-25 victory.
The Cavs' second game was one that they were eager for: Lakeland Lady Chargers. Both teams were up for the game as were the fans. In yet another rivalry game, the Cavs rose to the occasion dismantling the Chargers 69-31. Lakeland Tenoroc sophomore guard Erica Lanier led the Cavs with 16pts 5assts 4stls and Victoria Cecil added 11pts 5assts 3stls in the rout that gave the Cavs the pool title.
The Cavs' first playoff game was perhaps their toughest game of the tournament. Pitted against a familiar foe, the Sarasota Sting, the Cavs were faced with the notion that its rare to be able to beat a good team 3 times in a row. The Sting came out and gave the Cavs a handful as they ended the half only down by one, 24-23. It was an early morning game for both teams, but the Cavs' guards woke up in the second half. Victoria Cecil led the way for the Cavs with 12pts 5assts 4stls and Dasia Daniels poured in 11pts 3stls as the Cavs pulled away to a 65-53 victory over the Sting.
In the semifinal game, the Cavs faced a fiesty Citrus Wildcats team that came out confident and poised. Playing without Tampa Tech junior forward Jasmine Rodriguez and Tampa Tech junior guard Courtney Jenkins who each sustained injuries in the game v/s Sarasota Sting, the Cavs fought to put the game out of reach early so that the loss of Rodriguez and Jenkins wouldnt be a factor. Guards Erica Lanier and New Port Richey Mitchell junior LaTrel Kirkland each scored 11pts and Tampa Wharton junior forward Shawnnice Wiggins was a beast inside leading the Cavs to an impressive 74-48 victory over the Wildcats and a berth into the Championship game.
When the Suncoast Wolfpack stepped onto the court to face the Cavs for the championship, the Cavs knew that they were in for a footrace as the Wolfpack featured a guard heavy team known for running and pinpoint shooting. The game started as expected- a speedway with with both teams running and playing aggressive defense. Sparked by the return of Jasmine Rodriguez who was taken to the hospital during the Sarasota Sting game, the Cavs kept coming at the Wolfpack led by Rodriguez's 11pts 8reb. The Cavs guards were extremely vital in the attack as they totaled an astounding 31 steals and forced turnovers in their relentless pressure defense. Dasia Daniels led the guard charge with 8pts 3stls and Tampa Tech junior guard Leria Jenrette, who leads the team in assists, added 9 assts and 4stls to go along with her 5pts in the Cavs 65-40 Tournament of Champions Championship game.
Cavs coaches with Rutgers University coach Vivian Stringer at Boo Williams Nike Invitational in Hampton, Virginia.
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Erica Young was named to the 2009 Tournament of Champions All-Tournament team for being a monster on the boards and on defense for the entire tournament. In addition to Erica, Victoria Cecil, although missing the first night, was on a mission for the tournament as she took over at crucial times for the Cavs. Erica Lanier was an all around menace both offensively and defensively leading her to being named the Most Valuable Player for the 2009 Tournament of Champions.
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FROM THE FGB 09 TOURNAMENT
DEDICATION WAS KEY TO SUCCESS!!
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BOO WILLIAMS' NIKE INVITATIONAL
The Cavs entered into the Boo Williams Nike Invitational with one purpose... to win national respect! The Cavs are already named among the state's elite but are trying to break into the "elite" division on a national scale. When the ladies stepped out on the floor Friday afternoon v/s the Carolina Rise, the mission had begun. The Cavs came out jittery at first but settled down nicely putting together a nice run that resulted in a 12 point lead. Carolina fought back not allowing the game to get any further out of hand than the 12 point margin but the Cavs' relentless determination proved to be too much for the Carolina Rise to overcome. Led by Lake Wales junior guard Lucky Tensley and Tampa Memorial Middle 8th grader Erica Young, the Cavs hung on for a 43-36 victory over the Rise.
The Cavs' second game was a complete disaster. The Cavs found out what homecourt advantage is all about. Facing a team from the Hampton-Norfolk-Virginia Beach area and refs from the area as well was a fatal combination for the Cavs. In the game, the Cavs were called for a total of 42 fouls and the TPLS team only 14. When all was said and done, the Cavs, led by New Port Richey Mitchell guard Latrel Kirkland's 16pts 3assts 3stls and Tampa Bay Tech junior guard Leria Jenrette's 11pts 12reb 3 stls to go along with 4 assts, fought back from a 12 point deficit to tie up the game and force an overtime period. In overtime, the questionable foul calls continued to be the problem as the Cavs fell 66-62 to TPLS.
The Cavs' last game was over early. The Cavs, livid from the atrocity of their game v/s TPLS, came out running and playing hard which resulted in a lopsided 77-43 victory. The Cavs were led by Latrel Kirkland who scored a game high 26 points and Clearwater junior guard Victoria Cecil, who finished with 12pts.
In summary, the Cavs played very well at the Boo Williams Nike Invitational despite their disappointing OT loss that cost them a bid into bracket play. It was a combined effort from several players that stepped up and fought hard to help the Cavs win and hopefully, gain more respect on the national level.
CAVS HAVE FUN AT FGB SHOWCASE IN ORLANDO
2009 LADY CAVALIERS TEAM BLACK
CAVS 3-PEAT AT FIRE LADY SHOOTOUT CLASSIC
Right out of the gate, your Lady Cavaliers started off the 2009 tournament season blazing!! In what many this past weekend labeled as bedlam for the opposing teams, the Cavs impressively ran through the field at the Fire Lady Classic en route to a 5-0 record and BACK to BACK to BACK Championships!!
In the first game, the Cavs came out running. New Port Richey Mitchell junior guard Latrel Kirkland led the Cavs with 10 points and Lakeland Tenoroc sophomore guard Erica Lanier added 9 points against a fundamentally sound Sarasota Sting team that never quit. The Cav's depth proved to be too much as they ran past the Sting 69-43 to kickoff the season.
In the second game, the Cavs didnt let up blowing by the New Tampa Lady Wildcats 61-19. Lanier led the Cavs with 15 points and Lake Wales junior guard Lucky Tensley added 12 points moving the Cavs to a 2-0 record.
The third game of the tournament gave the Cavs their wish- a head to head v/s rival Lakeland Mustangs. The atmosphere was rivalry tense! The two teams came out on a tear against one another but in the end, the Cavs' balanced attack led by New Port Richey Gulf junior forward Kianna Mills' 16pt 11reb performance was too much as the Cavs ran a 78-20 stampede on the Mustangs.
The Semifinal matchup placed the Cavs against the Lakeland Mustangs' Elite team. The game was a fierce battle. The Mustangs elite team brought a much more competitive game to the court and proved to be a much more formiddable opponent than the other Lakeland Mustangs team. The heated matchup was what the Cavs needed as they pulled together and raised their level of play up a notch. Led by Mills' 13pts 9reb, the Cavs put together another balanced attack to pull away to a 74-41 victory over the Lakeland Mustangs Elite team.
The Championship game placed the Cavs v/s their first opponent of the tournament- Sarasota Sting. The rematch was much more competitive than the first matchup as the Sting came out with a vengence. After seeing the Cavs score the game's first 7 points, the Sting came back on a tear pulling the game close. Each time the Sting pulled close, the Cavs responded by going on a run of their own and never allowed the Sting to lead at any point of the game. Led by the trio of Clearwater junior guard Victoria Cecil, New Port Richey Mitchell junior guard Leshe Kirkland, and Erica Lanier, who each finished with 13 points, the Cavs began the year by cruising to a 65-54 CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS TO KIANNA, LIL BIT, AND LESHE!!!
Erica Lanier and Leshe Kirkland were elected to the 2009 Fire Lady Shootout All-Tournament team. Kianna Mills' strong play through the weekend earned her the title of MOST VALUABLE PLAYER of the 2009 Fire Lady Shootout.
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