GAUCHOS 15U TRAVEL TO LA LA LAND.

MAKE A SERIOUS IMPRESSION AT UNDER ARMOUR EVENT.

This past weekend, May 26-28, 2017, the NY Gauchos 15U traveled to Los Angeles California to participate in Under Armour Session 3 at the MAP SPORTS FACILITY in Garden Grove. In four games over 2 days the Gauchos were 3-1 and continued to be at the top of the UA League Leader Board. Now, after 2 sessions, our kids are 7-1 and poised to be invited to Atlanta for the UA finals.

I had the opportunity to spend 3 days with the team, first in Venice Beach for a day off (Friday) and then throughout the weekend as they struggled early, and soared late. I was impressed with the team on all fronts; from the Coaches (Tommy Swinton and Derek Watson) and the parents, and to the kids themselves. Great kids and a strongly bonded team. It has a family atmosphere. And that makes sense as many of the kids have been together for 4 years and more. And over the next few month we will profile these kids as they are the next Gaucho All Stars and are poised to take their games onto NCAA elite schools.

So take a moment to read about them and then come to a game and meet them in person. I guarantee that will be rewarding.

The following is a recap of the four games played in Garden Grove May 26-29, 2017.

GAME 1: Do Free Throws Matter? You Betcha!

Gauchos Lose First Game of the Under Armour Season (4-1) with a Lackluster Attitude & Missed Free-Throws vs B-Maze at UAA Session # 3 in Garden Grove California.

GAME 2: Redemption Game vs Houston Defenders Almost Gets Away

But Gauchos Win to Stay Atop Division (5-1).

Was this going to be deja vu all over again? Well into the second period and Gauchos were again trailing and looking off their game. They should’ve been hungry for a win. Yet mild defense from the HOUSTON DEFENDERS were making the Choz look like amateurs. So DJ Bailey, #2, looked to take over the game and started cranking up the speed, drawing fouls and making free throws. Funny how one thing leads to another and before you could say TIME OUT the Gauchos started to get serious, again playing smothering defense. Thanks DJ.

Where had that been the first game? Now the turnovers were coming fast with DJ really making a great team with Da’Marco Watson, who seemed to awake from a daze.

And then Kelvin makes a shot to give the Choz the lead with 4 mins in the first half. Back to Da’Marco making some strong moves. Making his free throws as well. There’s DJ making a easy layup. Eric rebounding. Matt playing strong on the inside. CJ makes a steals and goes in for a layup. Makes his FTs  and Gauchos are magically up by 7 (33/26). But Defenders make a run at the end of the half to keep them within striking distance and within 6 at the half (36-30).

In the second half, it’s a chess game with the lead changing back and forth and no one being able to get a grip and take over the game. It is nervous time at the MAP.  Who was going to make the difference in this game if Gauchos were to win? The usual suspects, we suppose. Da’Marco. Jalen. CJ.. Jake. What? JAKE? Yep. It was JAKE.

A strong move inside and some light hands by said big man gave Gauchos an 8 point lead with 2:15 left in the game. Could these young men find the desire to close this one out?

Like all things Gauchos, you have to fall down before you can get up and this time it started with CJ trying to do to much and that led to a turnover, a 3-pointer and the lead cut to 5 with a minute left in the game. Back to Gauchos and within a few seconds we turn the ball over again and here come the DEFENDERS. But a missed shot and a strong rebound and Gauchos were back in possession with 45 seconds on the clock. A full court pass to JAKE and Gauchos got an easy one and a 7 point lead with 40 seconds on the clock. Time was running out on the DEFENDERS and after 2 missed 3-point attempts by Houston, Gauchos would come away with the ball and a WIN. Can I say PHEW?

GAME 3: Strong Play in 4th Gives Gauchos 15U Edge vs KC Run GMC

 Was Court 7 the place that Gauchos would make a stand and put this day behind them? This was going to be a hard task as the 3rd game of the day. Always a difficult time to get a win, Gauchos started the game with Kelvin, Matt, Jake, CJ and Da’Marco, and they played even for a while and Jake gets some early scoring. But Gauchos fall behind early and are looking at a 6 point deficit before we knew it. Then we get some good stops and more back and forth and at the end of one Gauchos were up by one.

In the second period, DaMarco, Jake, Jalen Smith (#3), DJ, Jaheim Young (#11), are on  the court but it is Jaheim who scores early to get us up by 3 in the early minutes of the period. Then a great 3-point shot by RUN GMC is countered with a 3 of his own from Jaheim. More back and forth until Jake makes a strong move inside. Then Jaheim goes to the line and make his free throw to give Gauchos a 3 point lead with 3:30 in the half. Gauchos are playing great defense but keep getting called for fouls and cannot get the turnover. The ball keeps bouncing to RUN but then a steal from DJ and a foul by RUN and Gauchos find themselves the line. Chris goes to the line and makes his free throws and Gauchos are up, 31-27, with 2 mins in the first half. Da’Marco slashes but no call. Foul by Gauchos but no basket. FT is missed. Jake getting rest, Jake out, Matt in. 31-28 with 48 secs. CJ fouled and going to the line, making one and one. Gauchos swarming but Run scoops a shot. Gauchos playing for last shot, DJ drains a 3 with 2 seconds on the clock to give the Choz a six point lead at the half.

In the third, Gauchos looked to extend the lead to ten after an early basket and go up by 8 and then quickly give up a few baskets and miss a few free throws and find that they are up by only 2 points after only 3 minutes. (38-36). We are out of sorts. But playing tough. 4 minutes in the 3rd. Matt misses layup, Run looks to tie. RUN misses FT, down by only 2. Jake in, DaMarco in. RUN down by one. Jalen makes a 3, RUN turns over, DaMarco to the line and a chance to take it to six. FT good. Making FTs. Makes both FTs. Gauchos by 6. Da’Marco smacked in mouth but ref does not see it. Jake tries a baby hook shot. NO GO. Run make a floater. Gauchos up by 3. Jake make a nice move. Gauchos by 5. Gauchos by 7 after a strip. And another. Up by 7. DaMarco driving floater, missed. RUN makes lay in. Gauchos by 5 with one minute. Jake working inside, misses but working hard. Jalen inbounds, Kelvin driving and scores and gets the foul. Making a statement today. Misses FT. But Gauchos get Rebound by Jalen. Traveling call on Kelvin. RUN makes a 3. Last shot. Jalen gets 3 pt foul.  Misses 1, makes 2, makes 3. Gauchos steals ball but misses shot. Gauchos by 6.

Fourth:  Early sloppy play and a foul on Kelvin and as he goes to the floor he smacks his head. Time Out. MEDIC. Kelvin OUT for the rest of the game.

Gauchos have 3 pt lead and 4 mins left. Gauchos playing strong. RUN gets fouled by Jake. Run misses and Gauchos RUN and layup by DJ gauchos by 4. RUN miss but at line. Gauchos by 5 with 4 min. FT by run 1/1  59/55. Gauchos Jake makes a move and gets the shot. Gauchos force turnover, but Turn it Over right back. 3 mins. Gauchos by 6. Can we hold on. RUN shoots, loose ball. RUN gets it. RUN one more time.  Gauchos force TO and DaMarco gets fouled, and to the line for 1/1. By 6, 2:30/ Makes 1st, Makes 2. Jake on defense. Jake makes a block. . Clock does not start. Score keepers are asleep as usual. Gauchos by 9. RUN fouls Jalen. Jalen machines 1st, Up by 10. 1:30 TG. Gauchos by 11. Gauchos swarming but TO ball and 2 pts. 1:17 remaining. Is the game still at large. Gauchos TO and give up 2 more points. By 8 with 0:58. CJ brings it up to Jake and an nice shot inside and RUN runs out of the house. Gauchos have a hard time finishing the game and give up a few more points and kick ball give the ball back to RUN. But an 8 point lead give up a 2 , by 6, but this is over and a last gasp comes up early and Gauchos finally win 69-63. Sloppy but in the record books. Finish the day 2-1 and a 6-1 record, overall.

GAME 4: Back to Winning Ways, Gauchos 15U Take Game vs Miami Vipers

I had never met Jamal Mashburn. I threw him a party once but he never came. But his Mom did and she was pretty happy with the event. But I had never met Jamal and there he was. At the MAP, supporting his son who plays for the MIAMI VIPERS. And guess what? that’s who we were playing on the forth game. How was this going to go? I approached him and introduced myself, Lou’s nephews, gets them all the time. And he was very nice. And he agreed that he would take a photo with our team after the game. But I told him, if we loose that would be great but if we won, then I wouldn’t ask him to do that as it might make his kid upset. And guess what. WE WON.

On the court with a new line up including Da’Marco Watson, Jalen Smith, CJ Robinson, Jake Tavroff and Matt Mayers. Jaheim Young was out for the game with a a foot injury. And Kelvin Smith was still undecided due to his head injury from the day before.

First Period: Game starts quickly with a steal and a layup from CJ. Matt was playing strong and would have the best game of the trip right here. He would play almost the entire game. Gauchos playing staggering defense and stripping the ball. Running and CJ gets the foul. Goes to the line. How will they shoot today. CJ sets the tone making both free throws. Nice. Gauchos looking good early. But give up easy points and the game stays close. Jake makes a great under the basket shot. More defense. Jake blocking but fouling as well. Miami at the line. Missing one, making one. Miami by one. 7-6. Matt driving. Misses, dishes, Jake jumper short, Miami running shoots a 3 and makes it. Miami up 10-6. Gaucho fight back and make a difficult shot, 10-8. And so it goes for the rest of the period. Kelvin sees some playing time and has an impact. But misses 4 free throws showing signs of the effect of the fall he took yesterday. And Jalen misses a shot. Gauchos struggling on shooting and no rebounds. But it’s early. Nothing getting away from Gauchos yet. Jalen strips the ball and sparks a run and a foul and goes to the line. Jalen at the line keeps the FTs going and makes the first. Misses the second. Miami by one. Jumper in. 12-9. DJ comes in. Miami makes another and we are down by 5. Jalen drives and gets fouled. More FT for Gauchos but 2 more missed by Jalen. I see FT practice in his future. Miami make theirs and Gauchos are down by 6. But Lordy me, a nice turn around basket by Eric #21 followed by a steal and basket by DJ and Gauchos end the period only down by 2, 15-13.

Second Period: On the court. DJ, Kelvin, Jake, Jalen,, Eric. Jake #22 going to the line early. Makes 2 FT. Eric makes another turnaround jumper. Is this his signature move?  Miami makes a 3. Eric make a shot. Eric playing strong. Liking some minutes. Gauchos running, ball slipped out, Jalen on the floor. Foul on Gauchos. A 3 from Miami! Ouch. Gauchos down by 7 (24-17). Can we please shut this guy down? Jake make a turn around. Nice. Gauchos playing great D. Miami Time Out. Gauchos at the line down by 5. CJ at the line. YES. YES. CJ is perfect from the line today. We will need that. Down by 4.  Back and forth. CJ at the line.

YES, NO. I and out. Down by 3. Dj makes a layup and Gauchos are down by 1. Gauchos force Turn over. Chance to take the lead. Matt with a power move to take the lead. Matt makes a FT and Gauchos have a 1 point lead. Gauchos foul behind the 3 point line and Miami makes all 3 FTs. Miami make another 3! Are you kidding me? Gauchos Turn over. Down by 4. And another 3. Down by 7. Gauchos make one and one at the line.  Miami running, shooting another 3, and making it. Down by 9. Miami make a final shot at the buzzer and we are down by 11, 39-28.

Third Period: We start at 11 point deficit. Jalen, DaMarco, Jake, Matt and Kelvin. Jalen gets a steal, pass to Matt and he makes it and gets fouled. Jake and Matt together. Our twin towers. DaMarco seems to have a different attitude, and CJ, and Matt all start playing well together. and quickly they are down by only 6. But the score. The score never changed after Gauchos made a FT and we were livid. But the ref ignored us and we never were awarded that point. But would that even matter. We would see soon enough. As the game progressed, Gauchos played hard with Matt playing hard and Kelvin getting a foul. And Da’Marco. Makes a steal. But Miami keeps making shots and Gauchos are still down by 10. DaMarco making a floater cuts it to 8. Miami fouls, Gaucho ball. Back and forth. Everyone playing tough. Jump ball. Miami arrow. Gauchos swarm, Miami having trouble. Miami misses. CJ goes hard, Gets fouled. At the line. NO. Way off. Ugly. Next one. YES, gauchos down by only 7. One minute left in the half. Miami running, CJ gets a Turn Over and drives hard and gets fouled. CJ at the line. YES, YES. Gauchos down by only 5. Miami makes a finger roll. Gauchos look to take the final shot of the period. They do not make the shot 49-54.

That’s all from Los Angeles. Next up for Gauchos 15U? Rumble in the Bronx, June 9-11, 2017.

Go Gauchos!