NATIONAL CLASSIC BRACKET FINALISTS!!!!!!!!

The Cape Crusader 9th grade team, playing out of the mid-atlantic region capped off an incredible season with an amazing run to the finals of the Classic Bracket at the AAU Division 3 East Coast National Championships. Though the team lost in the championship game, the Cape Crusaders left the Boo Williams Sportsplex with a record of 5-2 against some of the best AAU competition on the East Coast.

Things did not go well initiall for the Crusaders as the boys lost the opening game of pool play to the Western Mass Hoops Jaguars. As it turns out, the Jaguars would go on to win the pool and make it to the semi-finals of the winners bracket. In addition to great play on the court the staff, players and families of the Jaguars got behind the Crusaders and supported our boys throughout the remainder of the tournament and we look to develop a long-term relationship with this very positive program. The Crusaders righted the ship in the second game of pool play blowing out the Virginia Squires by 35 points in the second game of pool play. The following day the Crusaders earned one of our most satisfying wins of the season as they gutted out a hard fought, one point win over a physically imposing Long Island Lightning team. The win was particularly satisfying given the extremely poor behavior of many of the Lightning fans as well as some of the coaching staff. Unfortunately a 2-1 record in pool play was not good enough to advance to the championship bracket as the Crusaders, for the second year in a row at AAU nationals, lost out on point differential in a 3-way tie and instead played in the Classic bracket.

 The team began the playoffs Saturday evening with a convincing win over the Northern Virginia Cavaliers setting up an early morning Sunday game with the Next Level Georgia Elite. Though the Crusaders got down early and found themselves in serious foul trouble, everyone on the team made a positive contribution and the team came back to beat a very stunned Georgia team going away. This win placed the boys in the semi-finals versus the Loudin County Triple Threat located just outside of Washington, D.C. In another classic that will be remembered by players and fans of the program for years to come, the Crusaders moved into the championship when Tyreik "pop" Burton took a great pass from Tony Floyd and buried a three-pointer from the corner at the buzzer.  In the championship game the Crusaders played a Maryland Elite team that cruised to the championship game by an average victory margin well over thirty points. While the Crusaders took an early lead the Maryland United team pulled away for the championship victory.

 What an amazing accomplishment for our program. While the players deserve almost all of the credit, these young men would not have the opportunity to play without the hard, behind the scenes work of our many dedicated parents and staff. This was a milestone performance for our players against the most difficult competition we can find at this age group, the entire program is very proud of the team and their incredible accomplishmnet!!!

9 U Ocean City Classic Champs!!!

This is the event wherein teams will be awarded a bid to the DI, DII, or DIII National Championship based on their finish at the Super Regional; it is hosted by the Mid-Jersey Heat Basketball Club and games will take place at one of two locations:

Lakewood High School                    Lakewood Middle School

  855 Somerset Avenue          OR        755 Somerset Avenue

Lakewood, NJ                                    Lakewood, NJ

*Please note: The minimum recovery time between games is one game. Please plan accordingly.

Below is a list of nearby accommodations, please be advised that this list was provided by the tournament host to all AAU teams, hence they may become overbooked immediately and/or it may not be the most quiet of accommodations.

Ramada Inn: 2373 U.S. Route 9, Toms River, NJ 08755

Phone: (732) 905-2626  Rate: $99-$109

Hilton Garden Inn: 1885 Route 70, Lakewood, NJ 08701

Phone: (732) 262-5232 Rate: $99-$109

Duffy's Hope Celebrity Game A Huge Success!!!
       The first of what we hope will be many joint ventures between the Cape Crusader Basketball Club and Duffy's Hope was enjoyed by close to two-thousand people in our community. The evening was filled with exciting basketball action and appearances by celebrities from all over the country. The Crusaders got the evening going with an intra-squad game between the 3rd grade team that had the fans going crazy! Next up was the 5th grade team who played two fifteen minute quarters against the Delaware Titans. Building on the excitement from the first game, the local kids quickly went to work showing the product of all their hard work to the capacity crowd. When the final horn sounded, the Crusaders had a convincing win over a very good Delaware Titan team. Everywhere the coaches went that night we recieved compliments on how well and how hard all of our kids played. We are extremely proud of ALL of our youngsters!!!
    We look forward to helping Duffy's Hope bring the same type of family fun and excitement back again next year.


    A Special Thanks to Our Volunteers!!!

It's official, we have the best parents of any youth program anywhere! Thanks to all who donated items for sale and a special thanks to the parents who worked  all day saturday to set up and man the concession stand. "Family" is the motto of our program and it is never more evident than when we hold one of our fundraisers and receive so much support from our parents.  Without you, our program would not exist.

Team Rosters  [Please note that the 50.00 registration fee is due by Saturday, March 19th] Please also note that while we will do our best to get as many players into the game as possible, paying the registration fee and coming to practice does not guarantee any specific amount of playing time or even that every player will get into the game.

3rd Grade Team

1. Myles Andrews
2. Lionel Bailey
3. Ja'Vaughn Burton
4. Cory Edwards
5. Jahiem Godwin
6. Collin Mallet
7. Theo Morgan
8. Brody Pedersen
9. Kristopher Rushin
10. Shihiem Williams
11. Israel White 

Team Rosters  [Please note that the 50.00 registration fee is due by Saturday, March 19th] Please also note that while we will do our best to get as many players into the game as possible, paying the registration fee and coming to practice does not guarantee any specific amount of playing time or even that every player will get into the game.5th Grade Team

1. Jaquan Burton
2. Thomas Deshields
3. Garrett Elgin
4. Cecil Gilmore
5. Caleb Jones
6. Australia Mackey
7. Elshaddi Mifflin
8. Tyzhir Morris
9. Sydney Pedersen
10. Tamaris Perry
11. Doug Reed
12. Randy Rickards
13. Ian Robertson
14. Jordan Taylor

9th Grade Team **** (please see important information below this roster)

1. Austin Brooks
2. Jordan Brummell
3. Tyreik  Burton
4. Chris Chiartis
5. Solomon Cox
6. Demontre Daniels
7. Luke Diguglielmo
8. Toney Floyd
9. Shawn Godwin
10. Andrew Grau
11. Jordan Howell
12. Aubrey Jernigan II
13. Son Martinez Jr.
14. Alandis Reeves
15. Tommy Rushin
16. Ryan Thornburg
17. Tarez White
18. Octavion Wilson

Please note that we kept 18 people due to the fact that many of the young men trying out were in grades 7 and 8. As we mentioned at tryouts, this is a more intense form of competition than a recreational league where playing time is guaranteed. While we will do our best to get everyone into the game, no one is guaranteed to play nor a specific amount of playing time is allotted to any player. Regardless of age/grade, the best players will play! Simply because of age and experience, some of the 7th and 8th grade players will naturally see less playing time than the players currently in 8th grade. To offset this lack of playing time, we will do our best to find as many 8th grade tournaments as possible to give these players as much opportunity to compete as possible.

The $50.00 fee for the team is due this saturday, March 19th. If the lack of a guarantee regarding playing time is a problem for you and your youngster, we strongly urge you to consider another program.