DELAWARE ANGELS 6TH GRADE TEAM GOES 4-0 IN LVH SUPER REGIONAL

DELAWARE ANGELS 6TH GRADE TEAM
      GOES 4-0 IN LVH SUPER REGIONAL
                                by Bob Tucker
                                  (04-05-12)

The Delaware Angels 6th grade team went 4-0 in the Lehigh Valley Heat
Super Regional in Bethlehem, PA on March 31st and April 1st. The
Championship victory earned them a bid to the 6th Grade National
Championship in Franklin, TN.

On day 1, the Angels opened pool play against the host team, Lehigh
Valley Heat. It was apparent from the outset that the referees were partial
to the home team. It wasn’t the 22-6 foul advantage LVH enjoyed in the
game, it was the LVH coach’s shirts the refs were wearing under the zebra
shirts that didn’t seem right. Fortunately, the Angels controlled what they
could: their play on the court. Point guards Allie Olmstead and 5th grader
Lauren Park-Lane orchestrated the offense while post players Natalie
DePaulo and Kendra Warren controlled the paint. Nine Angels contributed
to the scoring, with 5th grader Kendra Warren leading the way with a game
high 9 points. Allie and Natalie chipped in 6 points each, while Lauren, Nia
Anderson, and Corrie Sterling contributed 4 points each. With a 23-3 lead
at the half, the Angels cruised to a 38-16 victory. However, it wasn’t all
good news as the Angels lost guard Kennedy Brown for 4 weeks with a
wrist fracture.

In the afternoon contest, the Angels used their sizeable height advantage
to pound the ball into the post against the Maryland Wolfpack. Good help
defense prevented the Wolfpack from getting any good looks at the basket.
Every Angel player contributed to the scoring in this one as they built a 34-
3 lead at the half. Forward Kaylee Otlowski was the recipient of several
nice lob passes into the paint that took her to basket for a game high 13
points. Camrie Webster contributed 10 points by jumping a number of
Wolfpack wing passes that resulted in fast breaks the other way for easy
layups. The Angels won this one easily, 56-3.

On Day 2, the Angels opened play against a familiar foe: Fencor. This
meeting would be very different from previous meetings. A full-court
pressure defense from the onset forced Fencor into a number of turnovers
that resulted in easy buckets for the Angels. In their half-court offense, the
Angels were able to work a lot of high-low two-man games.

Guard Camrie Webster contributed a game high 12 points and post
players Kendra Warren and Natalie DePaulo combined for 15 points in the
paint. Point guard Allie Olmstead was a perfect 4-4 from the charity stripe
and ended with 6 points. With the Angels up 23-8 at the half, they cruised
to a final score of 45-19 and earned a spot in the championship game.

In the championship game, with a bid to the 6th Grade National
Championship at stake, the Angels knew they had their work cut out for
them, even before the ball was tossed up. Their opponent, Pennridge
Mojo, was very athletic throughout their lineup and they had rolled through
their pool. They also had a number of shooters that would sink’em if left in
the open. The Angels came out ready for battle. Mojo started the game in
a zone defense. That left 5th grade sharp-shooter Olivia Tucker wide open
on the wings for 6 first quarter points. At the end of the first quarter, the
Angels found themselves down 13-7. Olivia scored another quick bucket
at the beginning of the second quarter. The Mojo came out of their next
timeout in a box and one defense to slow Olivia; however, their plan
backfired. The other Angel shooters took advantage, constantly attacking
the basket. Point guards Allie Olmstead and Lauren Park-Lane were
masterful in drives to the basket and dumps into the post to Kendra
Warren, who went to the charity stripe 14 times. Kendra and fellow
forward, Kaylee Otlowski, were dominant on the glass all day long. At the
end of three quarters, the Angels still found themselves down 29-26. In
the decisive fourth quarter, guard Camrie Webster had 6 fast break points
and Olivia Tucker contributed another 6. Olivia would finish with a game
high 19 points while being 5 of 6 from the charity stripe. When the final
buzzer sounded, it was the Angels who charged the court and celebrated
their 43-37 victory!

With the 4 victories, the Angels pushed their overall record to 6-2 on the
season. The weekend was characterized by unselfish play and
teammates wanting to pick each other up. The Angels spread the ball
around, constantly looking for the open shooter. As a result, the Angels
had 7 players score in double figures: Camrie Webster (30), Olivia Tucker
(30), Kendra Warren (28), Allie Olmstead (22), Natalie DePaulo (22),
Lauren Park-Lane (17), and Kaylee Otlowski (17).

Photos on the following pages:

Corrie Sterling, Kennedy Brown, and Kaylee Otlowski defend

Olivia Tucker lines it up on the charity stripe

Camrie Webster doing what she does best: winning jump balls!

Allie, Olivia, and Natalie off to the races

Natalie DePaulo evaluates her options

Kaylee Otlowski draws the foul. Kendra Warren boxed out?

Olivia Tucker hacked on her way to the basket

Nia Anderson prepares to hit Natalie DePaulo

Camrie Webster, Nia Anderson, and Allie Olmstead on the break

One girl press break = Lauren Park-Lane

Nia Anderson defends

Olivia Tucker drains 2

Allie Olmstead and Kendra Warren causing all kinds of problems!

Kaylee Otlowski for 2

Coach Sterling draws one up for the troops

Lauren Park-Lane breakin’ ankles