Wednesday, March 21, 2012

State AAU

The Copper Hills team decided to try their hand in the AAU State Tournament ... it was pretty much the same team as during the High School Prep league (we lost a couple players, gained Tanner). We were expecting some pretty tough competition and we got it ... I DID take video of most of the games, I just haven't gotten around to making them into Muvees yet ...


  • Game 1 - Copper Hills v Kings (Loss). This game was at 6:00, and Callahan and Parker had an elimination game with the Junior Jazz Tournament (Klint's team) across town at 7:00, so we left a little early. March 19. 
  • Game 2 - Copper Hills v Skyview (Loss) ... but a decent game. March 10. 
  • Game 3 - Copper Hills v RipCity (Win) 43-42. This game was CLOSE the entire time! But the boys did manage to get the win. March 10. 
  • Game 4 - Copper Hills v Riverton (Win) 48-31.  March 13
  • Game 5 - Copper Hills v Next Level (Win)35-25 ... March 20
  • Game 6 - Copper Hills v Alta Havoc (Loss) ... March 21

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Junior Jazz Fun Shot Competition


Junior Jazz isn't JUST games each Saturday ... there are a few other perks as well. There is a Jazz  player appearance (this year it was Devin Harris, I did take the three younger boys to that), tickets to a Jazz game, and the FUNSHOT competition (for grades 5-10, although Gene Fullmer only hosts the 5th/6th and 7th/8th divisions). Compete at your local rec center and hope to qualify for region, then finals ...



I scanned in a copy of the scoring sheet for reference, 
and included the rules below ...

How to Play
  •  The game is played by one individual.
  • The player has one minute to score as many baskets as possible from any of the five different shooting spots identified on the game court.
  • Each shooting spot is worth a different point value ranging from two to five points.
  • The top 2 players in each division with the highest cumulative score advances to the next level of play.
  • Local winners advance to the regional competition and the regional winners,by invitation, will advance to the final competition held at Energy Solutions.
Game Rules
  • Player begins with ball in hand at the free throw line
  • Player must dribble from one shooting spot to another. One point will be deducted for each dribbling or motion violation (palming, traveling, double-dribble).
  •  A player can score up to two lay-ups worth two points each during the one-minute competition (lay-ups must be made within a three foot radius of the basket). Shots from the free throw line are worth three points, a shot made from beyond the three point line is worth five points. Three other shooting spots on the court vary in the scoring value (ranging from two to four points depending on the spot).
  • Five bonus points will be awarded for attempting shots from all spots once, and ten bonus points will be awarded for attempting shots from all spots twice. 

Both Keaton and Callahan came to participate. Keaton did well, finished in the upper half of the competitors (70 points). Callahan's buddy Mason took first place (120 points I think, don't quote me), and Callahan and another boy tied for 2nd with 104. All three moved onto region.

Region was held the following week at American Prep Academy ... why it was held there, I don't know! It was a challenge to find (dang Mapquest didn't tell me I needed to turn LEFT again down an unmarked street, I'm bad enough at directions without any complications!) We did make it, although there wasn't enough parking, nor enough seating for parents. The court wasn't great ... again WHY is the region competition held at this location? There were quite a few kids, so just two rounds (it was still TWO HOURS long). The top three spots were SO close, with scores of 79, 78 and 75 ... Mason took second and Callahan took third.



It would have been nice if they had been given a trophy ... a ribbon ... even a certificate, just SOMETHING that stated they had been a winner ... I had to settle for this picture *Ü*


and of COURSE  I made a video
See it HERE

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Callahan - Junior Jazz 2012 (8th)

Steven, Jared, Parker, Brenden
Callahan, Bryson, Ben, Luis, Porter
(Stockton missing from picture)
Coach: Klint Koontz

This team was the solid six who have played together for a while (Callahan, Stockton, Parker, Jared, Brenden and Luis) with a couple additions. Although the team was 7th graders, we had chosen to play up at the 8th grade level for more competition ... and we got it. Most of the games were challenging but winnable (not that they did win all of them ... but did come in 2nd). Unfortunately some of the games conflicted with the CopperHills team, so Callahan missed out on three games!

Junior Jazz 8th Grade
 Game 1 Win (41-38) 
Game 2 Loss (game conflict/no video)
Game 3 Loss (game conflict/no video)
 Game 4 Win (51-33)
Game 5 Win (game conflict/no video)
 Game 6 Win (50-37)
 Game 7 Loss (48-51)
Game 8 Loss (37-48)


So we'd had a good season and decided to try our hand in the annual Junior Jazz Tournament, playing teams from other rec centers, probably some of the more challenging teams. Although we'd played up in the 8th grade division for the season, we stayed in the 7th grade for the tournament (as the boys are all 7th graders), and the boys took the whole thing! Ironically, the championship game came down to us, and the team we played for our first game!

Junior Jazz Tournament
Game 1 WIN (49-35) v Thunder
Game 2 WIN (47-23) v Rose Park
Game 3 WIN (66-21) v Tigers
Game 4 WIN (68-52) v BlueClues
Game 5 WIN (49-33) v Thunder

The boys got this T-shirt ...