For the first time ever, the CAVS headed north to Reno, Nevada for the 20th Annual AAU Memorial Day Tournament on May 23rd – 25th.  Since this was the first time the CAVS attended this tournament, the team wasn’t quite sure what to expect.  But the CAVS 10U were determined to have a great showing. 

The CAVS 10U opened pool play against the Oakland Soldiers.  The Oakland team was a tall team, and the CAVS big men, Maurice Walton, Chasen Pender, and Mike Irving, would end up battling down low for position the entire game.  The CAVS started the game with great energy as the team’s leader, DJ McDonald, hit some wide open jump shots.  The CAVS took a 10 to 4 lead after the 1st quarter.  The CAVS used their full court press during the 2nd quarter to score easy lay ups by Jordan Hunt and Brian Devereaux.  The CAVS held an 8-point lead at halftime.  During the 2nd half, the CAVS turned up their intensity.  The CAVS guards, DJ, Skyler Barry and Elijah Walker were all over the court and forced multiple turnovers.  The Soldiers low post players could not score from the inside and the Soldiers had to settle for jump shots.  The CAVS turned in a solid performance with a 48 – 29 victory.

The next opponent for the CAVS was a local team, the Reno Ballers.  The CAVS had too much size for the much smaller Reno team.  The CAVS executed their high – low game to perfection as Chasen and Maurice all scored from down low.  Once again, the CAVS defensive pressure led to multiple easy lay-ups.  The CAVS ran away with the game 65 – 3.  The CAVS enjoyed balanced scoring from all of its players.  With the two victories, the CAVS were assured the first seed in their pool. 

On Sunday, the playoffs began.  The CAVS 10U were looking forward to a rematch with a team that had beaten them a month earlier at the Las Vegas Easter Classic.  The CAVS were ready for the rematch with the Division One All Stars.  Division One jumped out early as their speedy guards led the charge against the CAVS.  Defensively, DJ, Brian, and Elijah Walker worked to slow down the speedy team.  The CAVS got burned early and Division One took a 20 – 15 lead after the 1st quarter.  During the 2nd quarter the CAVS took advantage of their size.  The CAVS were able to slow the game down as guards Jordan, Skyler, and Isaiah Luckey played excellent team defense.  The CAVS took a 34 – 31 lead into halftime.  During the 3rd quarter, the CAVS clung on to their 3-point lead.  The teams continued to exchange baskets throughout the quarter and entering the 4th quarter, the CAVS still led 47 – 44.  Division One could not get an inside game going, but the guards started to heat up from the outside.  Division One hit several 3-pointers as the CAVS could not continue the defensive pressure on the opponent’s guards.  With 2:54 remaining in the game, Division One took the lead 58 – 57.  The CAVS kept their composure and, behind their captain DJ McDonald’s scoring, held on to a 64 – 63 lead with 54 seconds left in the game.  DJ hit a free-throw to give the CAVS a 2 point lead.  Division One got the ball back with 28 seconds.  Division One came up the court, and with time winding down hit a 3 pointer with 4 seconds left.  The CAVS in-bounded the ball but could not score.  Division One beat the CAVS 66 – 65.  This was a great game and turned out to be the “unofficial” championship for the tournament.

The CAVS 10U moved into the losers bracket and faced Flight Elite for 3rd place.  The CAVS started a little sluggish at the beginning of the game, but still managed to take a 10 – 2 lead at the end of the 1st quarter.  During the 2nd quarter Elijah and Brian scored on drives to the basket.  Mike Irving and Colden Davis scored on lay-ups down low.  The CAVS led at halftime 24 – 14.  After halftime, the CAVS broke the game wide open.  DJ’s defensive pressure forced multiple turnovers, which led to easy lay ups.  The CAVS guards controlled the game on both ends of the court.  At the end of the 3rd quarter, the CAVS led 40 – 22.  During the 4th quarter, the game slowed down.  The CAVS held a commanding lead and Flight Elite could not score against the defense.  The CAVS would go on to win 45 – 26.

Although disappointed about not bringing home the championship, the CAVS 10U had a great showing at the Reno tournament.