The Anna Maria Island Sun Newspaper


Vol. 16 No. 42 - August 17, 2016

sports

Teamwork is taught at The Center

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

monica simpson | SUN

Team high scorer Anthony Nguyen, for Harry's Grill, checks the
court for the open man under the pressure of Salty Printing's
Mason Moss and Ewan Cloutier.

Starting the first week of school last week, the seven players rostered on each team in the five-to nine-year old youth basketball league found themselves matching up on the basketball court in the first games of the season at the Island's community center Thursday night. Playing 5v5, each of the players got their time on the court to not only show their skills, but also learn more about the game with the help of the referees and coaches.

Big man Grayson Mitchell, for Team Harry's Grill, faced Salty Printing's Kieran Cloutier in the jump ball to start the first game of the season. Quick to start the scoring action, Mitchell scored the first points in the game after effective passing by his teammates.

Ewan Cloutier displayed mad dribbling skills proving the Cloutier brother duo to be a force to be reckoned with on the court. K. Cloutier's first shot, just short of the goal, was rebounded by Fiona McCarthy.

After stealing the pass from McCarthy, Anthony Nguyen, Harry's Grill top scorer, performed a textbook layup to advance the score to 4-0.

Salty Printing's point guard Mason Moss dribbled past half court to E. Cloutier. K. Cloutier took the shot under the basket, putting two points on the scoreboard for his team.

With back and forth action on the court, the ball found the hands of Harrison Schenerlein, who made his first shot attempt of the game, which just missed the rim.

The 24-minute game gave the veteran referees the chance to teach the young players about the rules of the game, including the "Over and Back Rule." The referees that officiate the games at The Center have been a consistent for over a decade. These individuals have watched the Island area kids play and grow before their eyes. Knowing the players' skill levels, the referees are able to guide each player to becoming stronger players on the court.

Nguyen rebounded the shot by Kenny Neiring for another basket, taking the score to 6-2. Schenerlein stole the ball from Neiring after his shot came off the rim to end the first period of play.

Rebound after rebound gave Nguyen another scoring opportunity. After taking advantage, he sank two baskets with an assist by Neiring. Neiring found his own scoring change, pushing Harry's Grill's lead to 12-2.

Closing the end of the first half, E. Cloutier hit the rim just before the buzzer.

During the halftime break, coaches could be heard encouraging players to involve all of the players using their passing skills and communicating on the court. Coaches stressed to the strong older players their important roles on the team to teach and support the younger, less experienced players.

Harry's Grill played well as a team with the help of Colin Bankert on the court and missed the support of Alex Cox.

With 12 minutes left in the game, Team Harry's Grill started on offense. Mitchell got his own rebound and made the basket under the net, spreading his team's lead by 12 points.

Team Salty Printing displayed great passing during the game, including effective bounce passes by F. McCarthy. Jack McCarthy worked the basketball for his team, fighting during the entire second half to close the point gap.

After being called for a five second violation on Mitchell, Schenerlein made another shot attempt that fell just of the basket.

In a teachable moment, E. Cloutier was called for a double dribble losing possession of the ball for Salty Printing. Taking advantage, Mitchell found himself in scoring position. The ball hit the rim on the outside shot.

Showing his defensive strength, E. Cloutier stole the ball before it could get to Nguyen. E. Cloutier added another basket to the Salty Printing statistics, moving the score to 14-4 in the third period of play.

Neiring answered back with a clean out side shot that was all net for Harry's Grill.

With less than 30 seconds left in the period, Schenerlein put up two more points for Salty printing.

The scoreboard displayed a 16-6 game with six minutes left in the first matchup of the season. In just the three periods of play, spectators could already see the players coming together as a team and the players improving on the court.

K. Cloutier was called for a shooting foul, taking Neiring to the free throw line. After missing the first shot, one of the referees took the opportunity to give Neiring a few shooting pointers. The second shot was to the right of the basket, but the shot showed the player applying the instruction of the referee.

Harry's Grill Bam Gartman made a strong pass to Mitchell under the hoop. Mitchell's shot could not find the net.

E. Cloutier was fouled, taking him to the free throw line. Making the first shot, the scoreboard displayed the 16-7 score. Moss rebounded the second free throw shot only to have the ball blocked by Nguyen.

Neiring took the ball down the court to score another basket for Harry's Grill.

With no full court press in the youth league, Moss took the ball to midcourt. The tough defense of Harry's Grill took possession of the ball with less than two minutes left in the game.

Nguyen threw up another layup giving his team a 13-point lead.

McCarthy was defensively glued to Mitchell, never giving Harry's Grill the opportunity to pass to him.

In the last seconds of the game, Nguyen scored the final basket of the game taking the score to 22-7.

Sun Scoreboard
Thursday, August 11

Youth Basketball

Five-to Nine-Year Old League

Harry's Grill 22
Salty Printing 7

Sugar Beach Digital 15
The Waterfront 6


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