Game 7 Sharks ELITE

Philly Jam Fest Recap

After three three-pointers in a row and a breakaway dunk, the cheers from the Westchester Warriors (NY) crowd became louder than Yankee Stadium after a walk-off home run. They could feel it. With 3:37 remaining in the second half of the first game of the Philly Jam Fest, the Warriors extended their lead to 51-37 as the Sharks were forced to call a timeout. They were on the verge of knocking off Ali in his prime. Many Sharks teams have faced this deficit before and the result usually hasn't been a fairytale ending.

And then Game 7 Sharks ELITE showed that this just isn't any other year for the program.

The Sharks regrouped after that timeout and showed the world that all the hype surrounding Game 7 Sharks ELITE is for real. Tim Frawley (6'4'', G, 2012, Middletown North) got things rolling with a three-ball from the corner. Following that, Jack Donnelly (6'0'', G, 2012, Rumson-Fair Haven) pulled up and knocked down a deep transition three. Eric Youncofski (5'10'', G, 2012, Middletown North) got a defensive rebound and hit Hunter Wysocki (6'5'', G, 2012, Colts Neck) with a bounce pass for a thunderous two-handed dunk. The Sharks turned up the defensive pressure and forced six Warriors turnovers in the final 3:37 of play. Down six with 45 seconds remaining, Bobby Brackett (6'7'', F, 2012, Lawrence) took a charge at midcourt to regain possession of the ball. After a missed three and missed lay up, Brackett skied through three Warrior defenders for the offensive rebound. Brackett would score and get fouled, and would convert on the free throw to cut the lead to 55-58 with a little over 30 seconds remaining. Youncofski would take a charge before the Warriors got the ball past half court and the Sharks took the ball back with 25 seconds remaining. After a missed shot, Youncofski found himself in position to make a big play once again and hit a deep three-pointer from the left wing to tie the game. The Warriors tried holding for the final shot, but Youncofski took another charge. The Sharks got the ball past half court and called their final timeout with 7 seconds remaining. The Sharks inbounded the ball and ran an isolation play for Wysocki. Wysocki caught the ball just outside the three-point and took one dribble to his left for a pull up jumper and knocked down the game-winning shot (the second one in Sharks history), giving the Sharks the 60-58 win. The Sharks outscored the very smart and disciplined Warriors team 23-7 in the final 3:37 of the game. 

Right after that, the Sharks had a late Saturday night showdown with the Huntington Park Warriors (PA). The Warriors recent notable alumni include soon to be NBA lottery picks Marcus and Markieff Morris, and are sponsored by former NBA champion Rasheed Wallace. The Sharks found themselves in a hole once again, this time down nine points with eight minutes remaining. The Sharks were able to use a zone defense to limit the Warriors athleticism and quickness, forcing them to fire up long range shots. Bill Wrightson (6'9'', F, 2012, Toms River North) had his coming out party. Wrightson's size was too much to handle on both ends for the Warriors. He converted on a tough hi-low finish to ignite the Sharks run, and altered shot attempts on defense. Jim Dzugan (6'5'', F, 2012, Middletown South) had a big time tip in to put the Sharks ahead for good with three minutes remaining. The Sharks won 51-46.

On Sunday morning, May 22, the Sharks faced off against Royersfield Rockets (PA) in their final pool play game. Donnelly started the game off with a deep three-pointer. Mike Aaman (6'8'', F, 2012, Raritan) did his damage early with 13 first half points. Aaman was able to bully the Rockets around and score on power moves and tip ins. Jason Huelbig (6'4'', G, 2012, Middletown North) got in on the action with a two-handed put back dunk early on, and finished the first half on back-to-back breakaway jams. Huelbig would lead the way with 20 points in the Sharks 60-52 win. 

The Sharks moved on to the semi-finals against LVBS Elite (NY). Aaman scored the first eight points of the game and Donnelly hit three three-pointers in the first half as the Sharks took an early 22-9 lead.  Donnelly, the leading returning three-point sniper in the Shore Conference, would continue his hot shooting and finish with 20 points. Brackett continued to bully opposing front lines inside and finished several and-1 plays. The Sharks advanced to the final with a 69-40 victory.

In the championship, the Sharks squared off with the host team, Keystone Blazers (PA). The Sharks started off on a tear with Aaman scoring seven straight points, a Huelbig reverse lay up, and a Youncofski dish to a cutting Wysocki. The Blazers were led by a very good 6'3'' lead guard who is receiving Atlantic-10 interest. The Sharks were able to throw him off and frustrate him by rotating Youncofski, Donnelly, and Huelbig on him. The Sharks closed the half up 33-26. Right after the intermission, Wysocki took a charge to regain Sharks possession. Brackett followed that up by knocking down a three-pointer from the left wing. Aaman, Wysocki, and Brackett were too strong on the boards for the Blazers and got several offensive rebounds and tip ins. A Huelbig steal and two-handed dunk put the Sharks up double-digits with just under ten minutes remaining and they did not look back, winning 61-47. Aaman would finish the championship game with 27 points and 16 rebounds, and Wysocki pumped in 15 points and 9 rebounds, and Brackett with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

It was the second straight tournament championship for the Sharks and their third of the young season. It was also the first out of state tournament championship in program history. There is still close to 40 games left in the season, and the Sharks look to add several more championships to the trophy case.

Big Meech

As we have been doing over the last several months, we continue to provide you with Game 7 Sharks YouTube videos. We will also tape all Sharks games this summer and put clips online! Here is the Mike Aaman Official Junior Season Mixtape and an old school Sharks tournament championship.

Getting Ready To Heat Up

The Sharks are readying to enter the summer phase of their schedule. The Sharks will start off with the Hamilton Park Summer League in Jersey City, NJ. The league conists of heavy hitters amongst New Jersey and New York. St. Anthony's, Don Bosco Prep, Bergen Catholic, Paramus Catholic, St. Joseph's Metuchen, and several NYC AAU teams. In 2010, the Sharks went 14-5 in the league and advanced to the final four before losing to eventual champions East Orange High School. They look to win it this year.

The Sharks will also play in three July D1 live period tournaments. The first one is July 11-12, the National Invitational in Springfield, MA. Games will be played at the Hall of Fame and University of Massachusetts. It is a loaded event and a great way to kick off the July recruiting period. The Sharks participated in it in 2007. This year's 17U division is loaded with the Sharks, New England Playaz (MA), Grassroots Canada, New Heights (NY), Connecticut Basketball Club, Connecticut Elite, Expressions Elite (MA), BC Eagles (NY), Long Island Lightning (NY), Florida Rams, Dorian's Pride (MI), Dwight Howard Warriors (FL), Albany City Rocks (NY), Belgian Jr. National Team, Hunting Park Warriors (PA), Mass Rivals (MA), Syracuse Select (NY), Metro Hawks (NY), Middlesex Magic (NY), Raising Champions (NY), Riverside Church Hawks (NY), and many more.

Stay tuned for more updates on the summer schedule!