Galaxy finishes 2nd in the Deep South Showcase

GREENSBORO GALAXY FINSHES 2ND IN THE DEEP SOUTH SHOWCASE‏

Greensboro Galaxy AAU squad that is playing up this year, got the chance to venture down in to the Deep South Showcase where the faint of heart should not attend. This is where young student athletes from all across the Nation attend under the watchful eye of College scouts from just about every major, mid major and low major school in the country. There were 216 teams represented in several different age categories from 13 to 17 and up. If one had the type of team that was competitive and talented enough they played above their age level. Several things usually can happen when a team play above their age level. Either they get exposed or they at least become some what competitive; very rarily do they come in and dominate.

Well the Greensboro Galaxy did not seem like a team that was willing to back down from a challenge. They took on the Peak Performance sponsored team from Atlanta, Georgia and beat them pretty handily 62-33. Led by Miranda Jenkins( Eastern Guilford) 13 pts, 4 rebounds, 3 assts, 2 steals, 3 blocks, Desiree Drayton( Dudley) 11 pts, 15 rebs, 2 assts, Katrina Gibson (Smith High) 10 pts, 4 assts, 4 rebs, Chell Jackson (Dudley) 9 pts, 9 rebs, 1 asst, Valarie Beale (Wesleyand Christian) 7 pts, 1 reb, 2 stls, Brittany Drew (Page) 6 pts, 7 assts, 1 rebs, 1 stl, Lakendra Wilkerson ( Smith) 4 pts, 6 rebs, 1 stl, Amerijah Jamison (Eastern Guilford) 2 pts, 4 rebs, 1 stl, 1 asst and Demetria Jordan (Grimsley) 2 rebs, 1 stl, 1 asst. Porta Oakley (Page) was on Vacation and did not attend the tournament.

The second game was the best of all four as the Galaxy squad took on the powerful Midpenn Motion from Pennslyvania. A team that had great size and great depth who executes very well. They had beaten a team earlier at the Deam Smith Center on Friday. This game went back and forth and ended in a tie 58-58. The rules are the first team that scores in overtime wins. Katrina Gibson from Smith ended the contest with a driving layup with a minute elapsed in the overtime over the outstretched hands of one of the Midpenn players. The team jumped and embraced each other in clebration because it was a hard fault victory against a very formidable opponent. Galaxy was led by Miranda Jenkins 23 pts, 4 rebs, 4 assts,1 blk. Katrina Gibson 11 pts, 4 assts, 3 rebs. Brittany Drew 8 pts, 3 assts, 2 rebs. Desiree Drayton 6 pts, 10 rebs, 3 assts. Chell Jackson 6 pts, 9 rebs, 1 asst, 1 stl. Amerijah Jamison 3 pts, 1 reb, 1 stl. Lakendra Wilkerson 2 pts, 6 rebs, 3 stls. Valarie Beale 1 pt and Demetria Jordan 1 rebound. Every contribution offensively or defensively was needed to pull off the victory.

Going into game three and hearing whispers about playing the New York City Exodus would send chills up any team spine. It was rumored that they were the team that many came to see as far as college scouts goes. The way the game was going it looked like the rumor was true. They had a twelve point lead and then an eight point lead with less than four minutes to play. The Galaxy never loss their composure and kept fighting all game. They found ways to make plays. Amerijah Jamison grabbed two key rebounds and two steals down the stretched and nailed a two pointer around the key to bring the Galaxy to with in one point. NYC hit another shot and took the lead. Miranda Jenkins stole the ball and converted a layup to put the Galaxy ahead for good with Katrina Gibson receiving a past from Lakendra Wilekrson with 8 seconds left to close the final margin of victory 47-42. Galaxy did not play their best game but found a way to win thanks to the outstanding play of Desiree Drayton who had 20 pts, 16 rebs, 2 assts, 1 stl. She made shots from all different angles and converted on 8 of 15 from the charity stripe. Miranda Jenkins chipped in with 14 pts, 7 rebs, 3 stls, 3 assts. Lakendra Wilkerson had 4 pts, 6 rebounds, 3 stls, 2 assts. Katrina Gibson contributed 4 pts, 1 rebound. Amerijah Jamison 2 pts, 4 rebounds, 2 stls. Brittany Drew 2 pts, 2 assts, 1 stls, 1 rebound. Chell Jackson 1 pts, 2 rebounds. It was a great never give up win and allowed the young Galaxy squad to advance to the Championship game.

In the Championship game it looked like Galaxy was sleep walking for awhile after two consecutive hard fought games that could have gone either way. If it was not for their will to win those games may have gone another way and no title chance would be at hand. Indiana Explosion was a well coached team and deserved to be in the Championship game. They had great height, size and good shooters. They won 49-40 but it was not with out a fight. Galaxy fault back twice to tie the game 26-26 and 38-38 before running out of gas at the end. Desiree Drayton paced the squad with 19 points, 10 rebounds, 2 stls, 1 blk. Chell Jackson had 7 points and 5 rebounds. Katrina Gibson chipped in 7 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assts. Lakendra Wilkerson finished with 4 points, 9 rebounds, 3 stls, 1 assts. Miranda Jenkins had 3 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assts, 3 steals. Amerijah Jamison grabbed 4 rebounds and Brittany Drew grabbed 2 rebounds and 1 asst.

They came up short in the Championship game in their first really big Show case and have a pretty good solid squad that should have a good AAU season if they keep their head on straight and keep working hard. Inquiries are filtering in and they may never know who is looking and observing.

The coaches Simpson, Braswell and McClean are doing a marvelous job and have Galaxy off to its greatest start ever after 13 games. They are 10-3 while playing older squads.