2009 Girls High School Summer League

Blue Division Championship Game

 

Hodgson Prevails Over St. Mark’s to Capture

2009 Summer League Cup

Silver Eagles Upset Spartans in a Tight One, 24 – 22

By Jim Charles

(Posted 7-24-09)

 

Your 2009 Summer League Champions:  Hodgson Vo-Tech

 

Well, it’s official.  Hodgson is for real.  Apparently, their upset 48 hours before the Finals in the Semis against Sanford was not just a “one off” fluke.  In the space of three calendar days, the Silver Eagles knocked off two teams that were a combined 23 – 0 during the summer.  Just how did these upstarts turn into giant killers?  They did it with a nice blend of height (which ended up being crucial at both ends of the court for them) and solid guard play.  Leading the way in the latter department is Jazmin Johnson, an incoming soph who played for Moyer last year.  The acquisition of Johnson is already paying huge dividends, and it isn’t even winter yet!  Her 10 points paced the Hodgsonian offensive effort, but she was so much more than just a scoring threat.  Her ball handling ability was near A+ as she effortlessly wove in and out of Spartan traffic without a scratch.  While every HVTer contributed valuable, well-played minutes, it was nevertheless Johnson who cut the path and showed the way.  And all this from a girl about to enter 10^th grade.

 

So, what happened to St. Mark’s?  It’s a perplexing question without a single, definitive answer.  There were a number of mental lapses – what in tennis would be called “unforced errors.”  Passes that went uncaught despite little or no pressure from the defense, hesitation during offensive sets, lane drives that weren’t finished well.  Just a bit too much uninspiring team play.  And many girls having an “off night” at one time didn’t help matters.  And even with all that, the Green & Gold (even though they were in blue & white) still managed to force the game to a one possession affair by the final buzzer.  This after falling behind 16 – 8 at one point.  Which did underscore an important point:  Even during an off night, this is a team that can run you close and possibly defeat you – even if you’re firing on all cylinders.  In the end, they gave Hodgson a good game.  And the second half was very exciting to watch – the final minutes even turning into a nail biter.

 

Congratulations to Hodgson Vo-Tech.  They did a real nice job of closing out their summer league season in the best fashion possible.  As for St. Mark’s, I know we haven’t heard the last from them.  Not by a long shot.

 

Top Scorers, Hodgson:  Jazmin Johnson, 10 points; Coreenah Redden, 5 points; Octavia Booker, 4 points

 

Top Scorers, St. Mark’s:  Annie Rivituso, 8 points; Allison Zimny & Lindsey Nichols, 6 points each

 

 

Jazmin Johnson played the point like a senior.

 

Johnson making a pass to teammate Alyssa Cuomo (#11).  The St. Mark's players are, left to right, Lindsey Nichols, Annie Rivituso, Emma Grey and Allison Zimny.

 

A nice up from Tiffany Anderson.

 

The Hodgson defense was tough all night long.  Only FOUR Spartans scored in the game.  One of them was star forward, Annie Rivituso, shown here.

 

Tiffany Anderson defends Rivituso..

 

DGB.com's 2009 JV Player of the Year, Emma Grey.  Coach John Fiorelli gave good minutes in this pressure game to the incoming sophomore.  He even had her in the game during the hectic closing minutes of the contest, demonstrating his faith in her abilities at the varsity level.

 

Allison Zimny has been playing fantastic basketball throughout summer league.  DGB.com sees her right now as making that transition from very good player to great one.

 

A nice look at the athleticism of Jazmin Johnson.

 

Not sure, but I think this is Coreenah Redden taking the shot for Hodgson.

(Let me know if I'm wrong!)

 

 

DelGirlsHoops@aol.com