Week four of the adidas/SlamJam Women's Basketball Classic featured both the Riverside Hawks and the Long Island Wave remaining undefeated. The Wave won their Saturday, September 30, 2000 game by forfeit to the Warren Harding squad that was decimated by team illness. On Sunday, October 1, 2000 the Long Island Wave gave the Mustangs an old fashion whopping 47 to 15. The Wave were led by Kia Wright 13 points, Jessica Hosenbold 11 points and Brittany Smith 10 points. The Wave will face a pretty good test this coming weekend playing Exodus (3 - 5) on Saturday and Franchise (4 - 4) on Sunday. Franchise will be minus their 6'4" All-American center Rebecca Richman, who will be on a recruitment trip to Rutgers University.
The Riverside Hawks remained undefeated this weekend by Easily defeating Duncan PAL 53 to 39 on Saturday night. The Hawks were led the combination of Renee Taylor (15 points), Cigi McCollin (12 points) and Kashawna Martin (10 points). Sunday proved to be a different story for Riverside as they struggled to defeat Exodus 26 to 24. Riverside was again led in scoring by Renee Taylor, who finished the game with 11 points to lead all scorers. The Hawks played the whole weekend without the services of Sharema Dean (All-American) who is currently attending a prep school in Virginia. Fear not said the Riverside coaches for Sharema would be returning to SlamJam on weekends to complete the rest of the league. Looking down the road, SlamJam fans are anticipating a regular season ended match up between the Wave and the Hawks Sunday, October 15, 2000 at 9:00am.
On Sunday morning all eyes were on the contest between Douglass and Promoting Progress for Youth (PPY) who were both tied for third place at 5 - 2. This game as expected turned out to be very tightly contested from the beginning to the end. The Douglass Panthers jumped out to 10 - 8 first quarter lead behind the scoring of Cindy Gonzalez who scored 5 points. At the half Douglass led this game 19 to 16 aided by the scoring of Jennifer Brown who led all scorers in the second quarter by tossing in 5 points. Douglass went on to win this contest 33 to 30. Jennifer Harris who led all scorers with 8 points led PPY. With the lost PPY, coached by Amil Mitchell fell to forth place with a record of 5 - 3. Douglass coached by Hammer Stevens took sole possession of third place with a 6 - 2 record.
Nastassia Boucicault of the Lady Sharks, adidas/SlamJam 1999 best point guard (Yogi Award Winner) scored 26 points leading her team to a 51 to 41 victory over Kips Bay. Traci Abraham of Exodus scored 19 big points to give her team a 38 to 35 victory over the Franchise Basketball team. Jennifer Brown of Douglass scored 19 points leading her team to 58 to 19 victory over the Lady Sharks. Renee Taylor of Riverside scored 15 points in Riverside's 53 to 39 victory over Duncan PAL. Shannon Bobbitt of Duncan PAL tossed in 17 points although taking a defeat to Franchise 32 to 23.
Congratulations go out to the following SlamJam players chosen to Street & Smith Girls High School All-America Team.
1. Sharema Dean - Forth Team All-American
2. Rebecca Richman - Sixth Team All-American
3. Cori Chambers - East Coast Honorable Mention All-American
4. Kia Wright - East Coast Honorable Mention All-American
Warren Harding forfeited two games this weekend due to player illness. The SlamJam Women's Basketball Classic frowns heavily upon any team forfeits. For that reason, Harding has been hit with a $120 fine and their participation in next year's fall league is questionable at best. This year along SlamJam turned away 8 teams from participating due to the 12-team limit. Team unable to make a commitment of making all their games will be placed on a waiting list. It is important to remember that SlamJam is played during the NCAA contact period allowing coaches to view our games and players. They don't come to SlamJam to see forfeits. In seven years and 1300 games being played, SlamJam has had only three forfeits. We take pride in making sure all our games are played as scheduled. Forfeit cannot and will not be tolerated by any team.
Last week's article incorrectly spelled Cori Chambers (Long Island Wave). She also lives in New Rochelle, NY and not Long Island.
Speaking Cori, SlamJam was surprised to find out that her mother Donna Chambers owns a wonderful Gift Gallery in White Plains, NY called "That Old Black Magic" specializing in Black Art. The gift shop sells black art, greetings cards, books, and black caricatures amongst other things. They also have monthly author appearances by such well known authors as Al Sharpton, Iyanla Vanzant, Susan Taylor, Tony Brown, Ossie & Rudy Dee, the late Arthur Ashe and many more. If you choose to visit "That Old Black Magic" the address is 163 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10601. You can call for information at (914) 328-7212. If that doesn't work for you visit her in the stands every Saturday and Sunday at SlamJam.
The adidas/SlamJam Women’s Basketball Classic 7th annual 2000 fall league conducted its’ third week of play at Riverbank State Park. This year’s league is every bit as strong or stronger than the past seven years. The league features twelve of the very best teams from New York City, Long Island, New Jersey and Connecticut. The teams competing this year are the Riverside Hawks, Long Island Wave, Douglass Panthers, Promoting Progress for Youth, Kips Bay, Exodus, Franchise, Warren Harding, Mustangs, Lady Sharks, August Martin Angels, and Duncan PAL. The first two weeks of play has given clear indication of who the favorite teams will be come play-off time.
The Long Island Wave last year’s runner-up championship team has been destroying its early opponents by a 30-point margin of victory. This young and powerful Long Island Wave team is a collection of the absolute best 9th and 10th grader in the nation. The Wave features the best 8th grade point guard in the Country in Lisa-Ann Claxton, the sister of the Philadelphia 76’s first round draft choice Craig “Speedy” Claxton. Lisa possesses the skill, confidence and floor general ship of a well-tuned college ball player. She is aided by Cory Chambers a 5’9” unstoppable wing player from Ursuline High School in Long Island. Cori possesses all the skills necessary to become a high school All-American. The many college coaches attending the SlamJam games insist that she already has the physical makeup necessary compete at the next level. Then there’s Kia Wright a 5’7” all-purpose Point guard/two guard who is capable of scoring double figures in rebounds and points on any given night. Leslie Dickinson rated by GameBall Magazine as the third best 10th grader in the New York City/Long Island area is a proto-type of future NBA hall of fame Charles Barkley. Last but not least, there is 5’6” Randi Bender, 9th St. Dominic’s rated number 3 by GameBall Magazine. Randi is a defensive stopper who can shoot the lights out of the building if necessary.
The other team to watch is the Riverside Lady Hawks who just like their boys team feature some of the very, very best New York City talent. Sharema Dean formally of John Jay H.S. and a high school in North Carolina, is now attending a prep school in Maryland makes the trip to New York City every weekend to prove her rep as one of NYC finest players. She is a 5’11” scoring machine that fears no one on the hardwood. She can really do it all from ball handling, rebounding and shooting the jump shot. Renee Taylor from Bishop Loughlin H.S. is a 5’2 spark plug with a vicious handle and killer jump shot. Renee is only a 10th grader but she is very much accustomed to performing well in big basketball games with all the great games against Christ the King High School last season. She also held her own with Riverside down at this years’ AAU/U.S. Junior National Tournament in Washington D.C. Cigi McCollin is 5’7” Guard out of Christ the King High School who is rated by GameBall Magazine as the number one 11th Grader in the area. Cigi is a real quality player who can provide all the intangibles skills that makes a good team a great team.
One of the two weekend’s show case games featured the Riverside Hawks (6 - 0) versus the Douglass Panthers (4 - 2). The Panthers started the game by dominating the Hawks in the first half 25 to 12. The Panthers were led by 5’11” Candice Lindsay a tenth grader from Christ the King H.S. who tallied 8 points in the first half and 12 for the game. Cindy Gonzales and Crystal McFadden 6 and 5 points respectively in the first half aided her. High school basketball fans may remember these two girls for guiding Murray Bergtraum High School to two consecutive PSAL city championships. The second half was a totally different story as Riverside staged a remarkable comeback behind Sharema Deen who scored all of her game high 17 points in the second half. Cigi McCollin and Renee Taylor scored 13 and 9 points respectively for Riverside. Riverside fought, scratched and clawed to tie this game at 39 with approximately 8 seconds in regulation. Douglass still had the opportunity to put this one away as Mercedes Dukes raced to the basket with seconds remaining only to miss the lay-up that would have given her team a victory. Riverside won this game in overtime 47 to 45. Cindy Gonzales (one NYC’s best two guards) finished the game with 12 and Crystal McFadden (a young player with tremendous talent) had 10 points for Douglass.
In the other show case game of the week, the Long Island Wave faced the toughest challenge to date versus Promoting Progress for Youth. This game turned out to be a defensive war for both teams as Wave led the first half 13 to 10. The Wave were led in this game by Kia Wright who led her team with 13 points for the game. Promoting Progress for Youth was lead by 5’10” Jennifer Harris from Morristown High School in New Jersey, who led all scores with 19 points. Promoting Progress for Youth, who also feature the daughter of NBA Hall of Fame and Knick great Earl Monroe in Maya Monroe, held the Wave to their lowest point total for the season. The Wave won this contest 32 to 25 and remained undefeated at 6 - 0. Promoting Progress for Youth dropped to 4 - 2. SlamJam again proves to be a major recruiting ground for many of the nations big time college coaches. Some of the school in attendance already this season are Rutgers University, Boston College, University of Pittsburgh, University of Maryland, St. John’s University, Boston University, University of Massachusetts, Hartford University, Stony Brook University, Fordham University, Iona College, New York University, Long Island University and more.
The following old and new sponsors have supported this year’s league: adidas America, Slam Magazine, Old Navy, Magic Johnson Theatre and Modell’s Sporting Goods.
Rebecca Richman
The 6’4” highly touted Brooklyn Tech High School senior center, currently playing with the Franchise Basketball squad in SlamJam will be missing in action for the next two weekends. Rebecca Richmond will be making consecutive official campus visits to the University of Virginia and Rutgers University.
Tiffany Tomlinson The 6’7” senior from St. Michael’s Academy in Manhattan, currently playing with the Exodus basketball squad in SlamJam has made a verbal commitment to attend Penn State next year. Congratulations Tiffany you deserve it!