The New England Shooting Stars girls 16U National Basketball team began their farewell tour (the start of their final season of AAU basketball), After winning the DII National Championship last July in Florida, the team picked up where it left off with a 5th place finish out of 128 teams in their age group, at the USA Invitational at Penn State University. The tournament hosted 304 teams in 3 age groups, 14, 15 and 16.
The Stars first opponent, Ohio Lady Dragons fell by a score of 76-59, thanks to some hot shooting by the Stars, as a team they hit on 58% FG shooting, 40% from threes and 74% from the line, the Stars proved hard to stop. Jane White hit for 23 with 5 steals, Rebecca Arnone for 14 and Katie Vareika for 12, Nicole Boudreau added 9 points and 11 assists.
The team gritted out consecutive victories over Exodus II NYC by a score of 44-43 in overtime, with Nicole Boudreau leading the charge with 12, Vareika & White with 10&9 respectively, while Lia Nawn pulled down a team leading 5 rebounds adding 5 points.
The Stars defeated the Lady Running Rebels from Philadelphia in another nail biter by a score of 61-59, with Boudreau and Vareika hitting for 18 and 13, with Arnone garnering 6 boards and 4 points, with Katie Prothro hitting for 6 points and 3 steals.
In game 4 against the Maryland Lady Panthers, the Stars hot shooting cooled considerably as they fell behind by 19 in the second half but came back from their deficit to tie the game with just 47 seconds remaining and then take a three point lead with 20 seconds to go. As time ran off the clock, the Panthers swished a three to send the game to OT. The Stars comeback fell short as they lost by 5 in overtime. “We just could not get in sync in the early going and we had a big hole to dig out of, but fortunately our kids get really focused when playing from behind and they made a great effort, resulting in a great game”, said Assistant Coach Courtney Cheetham.
The girls bounced back quickly with a victory over the Maryland Lady Terps by a score of 60-57 led by Boudreau’s 21, 5 assists and 4 steals, White and Vareika with 14 and 13 points each, Danielle Davis was huge on the boards with 11 rebounds and 6 points.
The Maryland Flames stood between the Stars placing 5th or 9th. Not to be denied the game was decided on the inside with the Stars controlling the boards.
Danielle Davis battled for 8 rebounds, Nawn had 6 boards and 8 points, while Cailey White hit for 5 points and 3 boards, Ceara McNamara added 2 points and 5 caroms, with Shayla Hubbard hitting for 2 with 4 boards, while Jane White and Boudreau knocked down 14& 13. The win over the Flames secured the Stars 5th place finish with a 53-44 win
The Stars success comes in large part from their balanced scoring, full court defensive pressure and strong passing. “This is a very unselfish team, each cares deeply for their teammates and there is no concern about who scores what. This team is all about the extra pass, working together and covering one another, it’s real easy to be proud of this fantastic team of athletes”, said Coach Dennis Reed.
The team includes many of the top players from NH including; Becca Arnone-Campbell HS, Division III State Champions, Shayla Hubbard-Laconia HS, Ceara McNamara and Jane White Souhegan HS, DII State Champions, Lia Nawn-Trinity HS, Katie Prothro-Bedford HS and Cailey White-Keene HS and from Massachusetts, Nicole Boudreau-Andover HS, DI MA State Champions, Danielle Davis-Masconomet HS, and Katie Vareika-Tabor Academy, Class A Prep Champions.
The Stars continue their tour from Penn State and head to Chicago for the Nike Invitational Tournament of Champions and conclude their season in Washington, DC at the US Junior National Championships at the end of the month.