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 News & Tournaments |
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Tuesday, February 13
2007 TRAILBLAZERS TOURNAMENTS
TRAILBLAZERS SPRING CLASSIC & YBOA NATIONAL QUALIFIER
June 1-3, 2007, Westfield, MA
Fee: $375
Westfield State College
Boys Ages 12U thru 17U
3+ Games Guaranteed
Deadline: 5/25/06
Discount tickets for Basketball Hall of Fame
Very successful tournament for past 7 yrs.
Excellent NEW 3 courts gym facilities, concession stand,
individual electronic scoreboards, excellent high school
registered officials.
YBOA NATIONAL QUALIFIER: Tournament will pay the Nationals
Participation Fee for Teams that win in each age division
if team is properly registered with YBOA prior to tournament.
Contact: Jason Brown
Email: bucknchanz14@yahoo.com or alwepeepio@aol.com
Sunday, March 18
TRAILBLAZERS ON WESTERN MASS HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS !
The MIAA Finals have been completed and the Springfield Trailblazers
want to acknowledge the accomplishments of the players and alumni who
competed this high school season:
Juan Valentin, Tim Dunn, Guillermo “Petey” Zayas, Nate “Pooh Bunny” Pollard – Holyoke High School
This quartet were the key players on the Trailblazers first teams to
travel to AAU Nationals, having won 1 state AAU title (13u) and playing
in 3 straight championship games (12/13u/14u), and in 4 Division
AAU Nationals (12u/13u/14u/15u). This team also achieved success at
the YBOA Nationals, finishing 6th nationally at 15u, and losing in
the national championship game in 16u. They were all starters on
the reigning Division I Western Mass Champions!
Isiah Wallace (a), Quenton McMillian, Nick Holland – SABIS International
Charter School
This trio was part of last season’s 17u YBOA National Championship,
with Wallace taking home MVP honors. McMillian was a starter on
last year’s national champions, while Holland was a key role player.
Wallace was also a member on the 15u and 16u YBOA teams and took home
all tournament honors in 16u. All 3 were starters on the reigning
Division III Western Mass champions and state finalists.
Jansy & Jensen Cruz, and Jeff Hamilton – High School of Commerce
“Cruz Control” was a part of all the successful Trailblazers teams
since 13u, while all 3 Red Raiders were members of last year’s national
champions. Jansy last year received all-tournament at the YBOA
Nationals, while Jensen received the Hustle award and won the “Hot Shot”
Contest at the YBOA Nationals. Jeff Hamilton was a key role player
for the Trailblazers national championship team. “Cruz Control” was
all-scholastic selections last season, while leading the Red Raiders to
back to back Div. I Western Mass Final Fours. Hamilton was a key
reserve for Commerce this season.
Danny Lopes – South Hadley High School
Danny Lopes has been part of the Trailblazers for 3 years, and
was a key member of last year’s national championship team. Also
a stellar football player, he was a member of South Hadley’s
conference championship football team, which has played in
back-to-back Super Bowls. Lopes was the starting point guard on
the reigning Division II Western Mass Champions.
Tyronne Henderson – Mohawk Trail Regional High School
An all-scholastic selection, Tyronne was a starter on last season’s
national champions. He led Mohawk to the Divison II WMass
semifinals and eclipsed 1,000 career points.
Nate Hernandez – William Dean Technical High School
Nate was a member of the Trailblazer teams with the Holyoke High
connection, and was a member of the 17u national champions.
Hernandez was also a standout football player for Dean and made
all-scholastic. Hernandez led Dean to the WMass Div. III
quarterfinals and scored 1,000 career points.
Billy Cavanaugh (Westfield), Isaac Freeland (Greenfield),
Avery Williams (SABIS)
All 3 were members of last season’s national championship team.
While Cavanaugh and Freeland were contributors on their respective
basketball teams, Williams was a wrestler for SABIS this past season.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL MEMBERS AND ALUMNI
FOR THEIR SUCCESSFUL HIGH SCHOOL SEASONS!
 | | Isiah, Nick, Jeff, Avery, Nate. Back: Tyrone, Jensen, Jansy, Quinton, Jason |
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Monday, July 10
17U TRAILBLAZERS WON YBOA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
The Springfield Trailblazers, a 17 and under boys team, won the Youth
Basketball of America (YBOA) National Championships at Columbus State
University in Columbus, Georgia.
Last year they finished as runner-ups in Tampa, FL. and told the YBOA
organization their intentions of coming back this year because of
unfinished business with their nationals. The Trailblazers, coached
by Springfield College graduate Jason Brown, posted a 5-1 record losing
their only game on double Over Time. For the entire AAU and YBOA travel
season, the Trailblazers went 30-7.
Their final game was against the Midnight Basketball All-Stars of
Orlando, Florida coached by Vince Carter,Sr., father of super star NBA
player Vince Carter of the New Jersey Nets. At half time we were down
by 38 to 39. They had three good shooters but their best shooter got into
foul trouble by the 3rd quarter. The Orlando team tried to press the
Trailblazers in the fourth quarter of the title game, but key assists from
Quinton McMillian including two to Jensen Cruz, who turned both passes into
3 pointers to give his team a seven point lead, and key 13 of 16 free throws,
most of them from Isiah Wallace, sealed the victory for the Trailblazers.
Wallace scored 30 points in the championship game.
In the basketball tournament, Sabis International Isiah Wallace emerged
with the Most Valuable Player Award. Quinton McMillian of Sabis and
Jansy Cruz of Commerce made the all-tournament team. Jensen Cruz had
two awards, won the Hot Shot skill competition and the tournament
Hustle Award.
"The championship was all about our team's poise and speed.
The other teams were well aware of us because we finished second
last year," said coach Brown.
The Trailblazers roster: Anthony McGregor, Avery Williams, Nick Holland,
Quinton McMillian, and Isiah Wallace, Sabis International;
David Crosse, Jeff Hamilton, Jensen Cruz, and Jansy Cruz, Commerce;
Tyrone Henderson, Mohawk Trail Regional of Buckland;
Isaac Freeland, Greenfield; Billy Cavanaugh, Westfield;
Nate Hernandez, Dean Tech of Holyoke; and Danny Lopes, South Hadley.
"I can't say enough about Tyrone Henderson," coach Brown said,"bacause
he made a special commitment to this team, coming to Springfield from
the Shelbourne Falls area and never missing a practice or a game.
He was a first-team Republican all-scholastic player and a high scorer
at Mohawk Trail, but with us, he knew we needed him to rebound so
he sacrificed himself and showed a lot of character and leadership."
Coach Brown and Felix Gonzalez went personally to one of his high
school games in an attempt to recruit good and fresh talent into the
organization and Tyrone's contribution turned out to be
key with the Trailblazers.
We are proud of you guys. You represented well your families,
yourselves, the Trailblazers, and your community. You made the
teams down there understand that we come from the
BIRTHPLACE OF BASKETBALL!
Thank you guys, it has been an honor having all of you in our organization.
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BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME HONORS SPRINGFIELD TRAILBLAZERS
On Saturday August 6 at 11:00 AM, the Hall of Fame facilitated their theater to the
Springfield Trailblazers organization so they could honor their members especially the 16U
team that placed 2nd at the Youth Basketball of America National Championships in Tampa,
Florida.
This team finished the tournament with a 6 wins and 1 loss record. They gave Isiah Wallace
an All-Tournament Trophy; Best Scorer (84 pts.), 1st in Steals (19), 1st in Rebounds (57),
and 2nd in Assists (20). Jansy Cruz also was given an All-Tournament Award with a 22 point
game against the Maryland Raptors taking the team to the Finals. Jansy finished 1st in
Assist (26). Francisco Juan Valentin was awarded with the Hustle Trophy. He finished 2nd
in scoring (73), 3rd in Rebounds (39), and 3rd in Steals (8). Special mention to Timothy
Dunn, 1st in Blocked Shots (11), 2nd in Scoring (69), and 2nd in Rebounds (54).
The Basketball Hall of Fame gave each player and their coaches, a beautiful Certificate of
Congratulations signed by Mr. John L. Doleva, President & CEO of the Hall of Fame. They
also gave them free entrance to the museum so they could enjoy the rest of the day at the
Hall. The Stone Cold Ice Cream Shop gave them free ice creams.
Mayor Charles V. Ryan of Springfield, honored them with a Proclamation Letter as the day
of the Springfield Trailblazers.
The Mayor of Holyoke, Michael J. Sullivan, awarded them with a Certificate of Achievement.
We would like to take the opportunity to publicly state, by this way, to gratefully thanks
the Basketball Hall of Fame for their sensitivity to the needs of the Youth of our area;
to the Mayor's of Springfield and Holyoke for making them feel proud of representing
Western Massachusetts.
CONGRATULATIONS SPRINGFIELD TRAILBLAZERS!!!
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TRAILBLAZERS RUNNER-UPS AT YBOA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS!
Our entire Springfield Trailblazers organization would like to congratulate our 16 and
under team coached by Jason M. Brown for finishing as runner-ups at the YBOA National
Championships held in Tampa, Florida from July 16 through the 23rd. They finished with a 6
wins and 1 loss record.
They won their pool with a 3-0 record. Their first game was against the Gwinnett Force of
Atlanta, Georgia, beating them by 70-60. Next game was against the FBVA from Brevard
County, Florida (Cocoa beach area), upsetting them by 66-63. This FBVA team was considered
one of the favorites of this year tournament together with the Prince George All-Stars of
Washington DC. Our third game was a forfeit against the Washington DC Vipers team,
advancing to Championship bracket play and being seeded 4th by tiebreakers (6 teams tie
with a 3-0 record).
At Championship round the team was awarded a bye advancing to the quarter finals by
beating the Maryland Patriots 68-60. Our next game was our toughest game against the
Alabama Hawks. This team is one of the elite programs from the south and we needed to win
to advanced to the final four and by doing so being able to better our last year finish of
6th place. The game was a battle from beginning to end having the Hawks edge us by close
margins during almost the entire game. Our players managed to beat this team at the very
end of the game beating them by 66-58. We were so happy because this win made us better
than our last year finish of 6th place and guarantee our team individual awards, team
trophy, and All-Tournament player award. The other teams, tournament organizers, and fans
from other States were talking about Massachusetts and some of our players everywhere we
went to scout our next opponent team. It made us feel proud of our team players. At the
final four, if we thought that our previous game was tough, the next one was unreal
against the Raptors. They had a player (# 25) that lit us up by scoring every basket that
he shot. Going to this game we were averaging 67.5 points per game. We knew that in order
to beat us they had to score 70 points plus.We beat this team 89-82 advancing for the
first time to a national finals in the history of our club and Western Mass. We lost our
final game 88-64 to a much better team than us, the Prince George All-Stars from
Washington DC, ending our spectacular run of a great YBOA National Championship
experience. We became the first team from Massachusetts to finish as Runner-Ups at a YBOA
National Championship and two years in a row between the top 10 teams.
Our team was awarded individual medals for our 10 players and three coaches. Isiah Wallace
(Sabis) was awarded with an All-Tournament trophy, as Jansy Cruz (Commerce) with also an
All-Tournament trophy. Francisco Juan Valentin (Holyoke High), was given the Hustle trophy
(he earned it). Special mention of Timothy Dunn (our only center and last year
All-Tournament award), Jensen Cruz, best scorer in the Maryland Patriots game, Guillermo
Zayas (Petey), our point guard, and Nathan Hernandez. Harry Melendez (Goober), our best
defender along with Edwin Sustache (Sito), and Nathaniel Pollard (Poohbunny). And a team
trophy donated to coach Jason M. Brown for his hard work at the tournament with his
scouting of games, practice, and good coaching!
We came back with YBOA bags given for free to each player at registration, a YBOA 10 panel
basketball, and pins to each players and coaches. Needless to say that a runner-up finish
at the 16U YBOA National Championship we will take it with a lot of pride and honor!
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 16U SPRINGFIELD TRAILBLAZERS !
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Monday, August 2
Original 15U Springfield Trailblazers Go YBOA Nationals!
The Trailblazers organization suceeded in putting back together the original 15U
Springfield Trailblazers with the addition of quality players like Danny Lopes and Isiah
Wallace to the team. The results were great as the team finished in 6th place with a 6,
wins and 2 losses record.
The team had to take a last game forfeit due to airlines not being able to accommodate 20
people on a standby basis. However, our delegation was more than happy to take six place
and become first team from the state of Massachusetts to finish this far.
We won our pool with a 3-0 record. Our first game was against the Gotha Bulls of Florida
beating them by 74-59. Next game against the Slammers of South Carolina winning by 67-60,
and our last against the Grand Bahamas team by 69-48, advancing to Championship bracket
play and being seeded 2nd by tiebreakers (8 teams tie with a 3-0 record).
At Championship round the team advanced to the 3rd round by beating the Sacramento Titans
from California by 66-25, and the Kingdom Players from Georgia by 67-48. This two wins put
us at the elite 8 round thus guaranteeing us a team trophy and an all-tournament player
award which was awarded to Timmy Dunn (Holyoke High). The Trailblazers lost their third
game against the Navarre All-Stars from Louisiana by 71-58, throwing us to a 4 team
bracket play to determine 5th through 8th positions. Won our next game by 3 points (70-67)
against the All American Ford team from Michigan sending us to a final game on Saturday to
determine the 5th and 6th place. The team opted to take 6th place and end our run of a
great YBOA national tournament experience. We became the first team from Massachusetts to
finish between the top 10 teams at a YBOA National Championship.
We came back with YBOA bags given for free to each player at registration. Jensen Cruz
(Bilingual), finished runner-up at the finals of the skills contest hot shots competition
were he was awarded a nice trophy. Timothy Dunn was chosen our all-tournament player of
this year YBOA Nationals. At the skill contest finals, breakdancers star artists from
Universal Studios gave a good show to a packed gym before giving awards to contestants.
Our kids also had the luck of getting some throwbacks like school backpacks with YBOA
logos, balls, wristbands and headbands. Needless to say that we had a real ball !
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR ORIGINAL TRAILBLAZERS !
Jamboree by Naughty by Nature
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