Archive - Jul 2012

Tennessee Flight captures title in both sections of Nike Nationals

NORTH AUGUSTA, SC -- For the third time in the eight-year history of Nike Nationals (held July 29-31 in North Augusta, SC), the Tennessee Flight Silver ha

Parker's record setting performance leads Team USA past Angola

In dominating fashion, the United States easily handled Angola 90-38 in pool play on Monday at the Olympic Park Basketball Arena in London.  Candace Parker led the way with 14 points, 12 rebounds and an Olympic single-game record four blocks.

“I thought it was a tremendous performance by Candace,” said U.S. head coach Geno Auriemma of Parker. “We saw a little bit of everything that she’s capable of doing. There are things that Candace can do that no other player can do.”

France upsets Australia in overtime thriller

France 74, Australia 70 OT

LONDON -- In an overtime thriller, France upset Australia, the three-time Olympic silver medalist, 74-70.  Belinda Snell hit a desperate half-court shot at the buzzer for Australia to send the game into overtime tied at 65 apiece.

Summer Slam showcases some new faces

ATLANTA -- In an era where bigger seems to be the way to go, the modestly sized Summer Slam, presented by Insider Exposure and organized by John McGraw, struck a pleasant balance between summer camp and exposure camp.  Fifty-two teams competed with about 75 colleges present to check the talent at some point during the three-day event (July 25-27).

Croatia makes Team USA work in Olympic opener

LONDON -- Don't let the 21-point final victory margin fool you. For 30 minutes, Croatia, making its Olympic debut in London this summer, gave Team USA as tough a test as any opponent the Americans have faced in recent memory. The trouble for the newcomers: A basketball game lasts 40 minutes, not 30.

China, France surprise on an interesting first day in London

If day one is any indication, women’s basketball in the 2012 Olympics will be a great show.

About the only game that went as expected was Australia vs. overmatched Great Britain, but otherwise, from Croatia hanging with the U.S. for 30 minutes to Canada exposing Russia to China and France pulling upsets, it was a day for the unexpected – and a great appetizer for what looks like it will be a very entertaining two weeks of basketball.

Russia 58, Canada 53

Lexie Brown leads A.O.T. Lady Rebels to Basketball on the Bayou title

NEW ORLEANS -- “We were due” said A.O.T. Lady Rebels head coach Omar Cooper about his team’s 64-58 win over Essence Purple to win the prestigious Basketball on the Bayou championship. 

In the past two weeks, Cooper's team had made it to the final four of the Battle in the Boro and AAU Nationals. This weekend, the Lady Rebels got past a tough DFW T-Jack Elite squad in the semifinals when Diamond DeShields dished the ball to Te’a Cooper for backdoor layup to win the game by one point.

London 2012: The United States -- Only gold will satisfy