Three high schools fell to Cubs varsity girl’s basketball team last week as coach Kevin Crye led his team first place in the Agate division of the Westcoast Jamboree Tournament in Pleasanton.
The three high school teams to fall in four days to the rampaging Cubs were St. Vincent of Petaluma, Holy Names of Oakland, and Bret Harte of Altaville.
Emily English earned MVP of the 12-team division as the Cubs’ high scorer in two of the three contests. Megan Leitem and Carlyn Edwards both won All-Tournament honors.
The Cubs won the first tournament game against St. Vincent 43-31 of Petaluma on Dec. 27. Megan Leitem led the Cubs to victory with 12 points and eight rebounds. Lauren Bell, Carlyn Edwards and Emily English followed with 6 points each.
In the second game, the Anderson girls won against Oakland’s Holy Names High School on Dec. 29.
The Cubs earned the 55-38 come-from-behind victory with great defense that held the opposing team’s lead scorer, forward Christina Rodgers, to only 10 points in the first three quarters. Of course, the Cubs’ 25 point second quarter certainly helped.
The Holy Names Monarchs tried to run away with an early 11-3 lead in the first quarter. The Monarchs ran an aggressive press defense against the Cubs, said Cubs coach Kevin Crye said.
The Monarch’s full-court press tried to trap the Anderson girls early. The tactic was effective against the Cubs, because the girls had not been pressed against by such high-level athletes, according to Crye.
“They had some really, really good athletes,” he added.
Breaking through the defense required teamwork.
“We handled the pressure ... Once the kids stopped trying to dribble through the press and look past it and rotate the ball, we started getting lay-ups. So, they pulled the press off,” Crye said. “Once we got to a half-court game, the other team didn’t defend very well. It was pretty successful.”
The Cubs’ Emily English led the team with 20 points, seven rebounds and three steals. She was followed by Megan Leitem, who earned a double double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
They were supported by Breanna Wilson who tallied six assists, seven rebounds and four points.
Of the 144 teams in 14 different sections in the Westcoast Jamboree Tournament, Coach Crye counted his team among the youngest.
“We’re so young,” Crye said of the Anderson team. “We’ve only got one senior, Sabrina McCary. With such a young team, they can get pretty squirrely. She’s definitely a calming presence.”
Leading up to the championship game against Bret Harte High School of Altaville, coach Crye was reserved when appraising his team’s chances.
“They’re bigger than us and they’re faster than us, but I think we’ll be successful if we just take care of the basketball,” said the Anderson coach.
The Cubs’ Leitem and Wilson are the tallest on the team at 5’8”, whereas Bret Harte sports 6’0” Alex Ballard; not to mention that Bret Harte runs five seniors and one junior.
Regardless, the Cubs built a 15-point in the second quarter with accurate shooting.
“Anytime you shoot real well, you’re bound to create a lead,” Crye said. “They couldn’t buy a bucket, and we shot real well.”
Bret Hart caught up to the Cubs regardless, with control of the basketball in a tied game with less than a minute to go in regulation play.
That’s when Anderson’s Carlyn Edwards managed a clutch steal and ran the ball down the court for a layup, scoring her only two points of the game with 11 seconds on the clock.
Bret Harte did not respond, and the score remained in favor of the Cubs, 39-37.
In this low scoring game, English and Leitem both tallied double-doubles, with English scoring 11 points and 10 rebounds, followed by Leitem with ten points, 11 rebounds and three steals. Nikki Tritton had 8 points and six rebounds.
When the Cubs return to the tournament next year, Crye said the girls would play in a higher bracket, with the Agate division being the second rung from the bottom. The Westcoast Jamboree ranks teams according to school size and ability, Crye said.
The Cubs will put their four-game winning streak on the line Jan. 6 in Oroville when they play Las Plumas, whose records rests at a lofty 11-1.
“This will be a good barometer of where we are,” Crye said.
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 11
AHSCubsmom writes:
“We’re so young,” Crye said of the Anderson team. “We’ve only got one senior, Sabrina McCary. With such a young team, they can get pretty squirrely. She’s definitely a calming presence.”-----my question--------
"why coach Crye is there only one senior?"
cub_mom writes:
because Crye didn't have any on his AAU team to transfer in. He plays HIS favorites, and I'm sure the Senior girls at AHS knew in advance that they would ride the bench unless they were already "in." Very unprofessional.
busymom writes:
WOW! I can't tell you how tired I am of hearing all the negative comments about this Varsity team or should I say Coach. Hey, here's a thought, how about be happy for these girls on the Varsity team who are working there butts off and winning games. Could we focus on some positive comments for once. This is beating a dead horse move on. These girls are doing a great job and they ALL are having fun as a team. Let's be supportive of these athletes. Go CUBS!
Missgt writes:
Busymom,
Wow! I can't tell you how tired I am of hearing excuses about how young this team is, he is the one who brought in his AAU freshmen to play down here in Anderson. I bet if your child was one of the kids that was replaced by his club playing favorites you to would have something to say. The girls that are on the team are not the problem, its how the coach got them to tranfer into this district that has created the problems you now have with the negative comments.
cub_mom writes:
Just wait--you will see firsthand why so many people dislike him. It's only a matter of time before he shows his true colors. You don't have tons of people hate you for no reason. There's reasons. Plenty of them. I just feel bad that the girls have to be coached by HIM of all people!
getalife4real writes:
In respone to Missgt,
Ok I have no idea who you are and so for you to comment on something you know nothing about, just like my screen name GET A LIFE! You know nothing about these 3 AAU freshman as you refer to them as so maybe you should not comment on them. I know one of them very well and I can tell you, these girls are nothing but nice good kids who enjoy playing basketball. It upsets me to see you talk about innocent girls who parents and themselves made decisions on where to go to school for whatever reason. When the girls registered at AUHS the entire staff was very welcoming and excited to have straight A honor students enroll. So if the staff at AUHS doesn't have a problem, why should you? Each one of these girls are good kids. So until you actually get to know these girls and the whole story GET A LIFE and quit meddling in other's people lives that you know nothing about.
Missgt writes:
GetALIFE
I am sorry that you do not get it. Not everyone can afford to play AAU or club basketball. School sports are for everyone not just club players. I do not care were these parents enroll their kids. If this happened at any of the other schools it still would not be fair. Freshmen tranfering out of their own school district to follow club coaches so they can play Varisty ball sets up an unfair playing field for non-club players. Don't the kids who live and go go to school in Anderson deserve to have a fair chance to make the school team? If his club playing freshmen played on Freshmen or J.V. teams there would not be be all the negative comment on this subject. Some times you just have to pay the dues.
getalife4real writes:
Well the sad thing is you still have no clue of the entire situation. Yes you are right school sports are for everyone, but unfortunately just like in real life the better candidate will get the job. But really do you honestly know the facts were there any sr's or jr's cut from the team? If you honestly know the answer you wouldn't even be commenting. I mean wouldn't a coach want more high school experienced players playing instead of a bunch of young girls. So go do your research and sorry that your daughter didn't make it up to Varsity. Her Jr year I am sure that she will make it. Plus the fact of the matter is no one in club ball has ever been turned down for not being able to pay for it. If a child wants to play they are welcome to play.
AHSCubsmom writes:
hey getalife,
No there weren't any Jrs or Srs cut from the team technically. Only because the coach basically strong armed them into quitting, then boasted to other players about how he did it. Coach Crye I will give you this; I think you hold the record hands down!!! I didn't think it was possible for us parents (formally proud parents) to be so disgusted and embarrassed by the morals of our childrens basketball mentor.
stoptheexcuses writes:
in response to AHSCubsmom,
Mary, your daughter did'nt make the volleyball team or the basketball team this year. I'm disgusted and embarrassed at your attitude. Quit embarrasing yourself, your daughter and AHS sports with your comments. When will it stop being the coaches fault?
bleh writes:
We all now what happen we can't change it. Its not a coincidence that a very good athlete sat her whole junior year. She worked her ass of and everyone knows she deserved to play over the freshman who came. Not knocking them down because they are very good players, but so are the girls who attend anderson and have paid their dues.
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