The last weekend in May, the CAVS 15U, who as a team had been inactive since suffering an "overtime" loss in the Easter Classic to Dream Vision (which is considered the top 15U team in the “country”), dusted off their shoes and headed for the West Coast Spartans Spring Fever Tournament.

The first game of the day was against the Buzz.  The CAVS, apparently hungry for competition, jumped on the Buzz early and never let-up.  The constant pressure defense and the pin-point execution of the offensive were too much for the Buzz to handle.  So much for Game #1.  Now onto Game #2.

Game #2, against Firebaugh High, was a repeat of Game #1.  Unfortunately for Firebaugh High, the CAVS were still hungry.  With their offense executing at a high percentage and their ever-present defensive pressure, the CAVS ended the day by cruising to another victory.

On Sunday, what started out as Game #3 of the tournament against Huntington Park, ended-up being the Championship Game.  Both teams were undefeated and would be in the Championship Game regardless of the Game #3 outcome.  This being the case, both teams agreed to regard Game #3 as the Championship Game.  After two easy wins, the CAVS were eagerly awaiting and anticipating some real competition.  Unfortunately for both teams, the competition never arrived.  For two halves, the defensive pressure of the CAVS caused numerous turnovers which resulted in easy baskets.  In the end, the CAVS 15U cruised to another championship.  Congratulations!  Now, who’s next?

On a last minute whim, the coaches for the CAVS 10U made the decision to take the team to the Spartans Spring Fever Tournament in Lawndale, California. Coming off a disappointing finish in Reno, it was decided to try and make a run at a local championship.

The weekend began early Saturday by facing off with the Inland Empire Rebels. Even though they experienced a little bit of a slow start, the CAVS were able to gain control of the game early with tough defense and offensive execution often scattering the Rebels defense and causing confusion. The end result was a 45-13 victory.

Next would be the Long Beach Sixers, a familiar foe from a recent trip to Palm Springs. The Sixers are a scrappy team that gave the young CAVS a challenge. Just like the game the two teams played in Palm Springs, this would be a physical game as the Sixers attempted to push the CAVS around. However, composure prevailed in this one. The CAVS defense buckled down in the second half of the game and took pride in protecting the paint and challenging shots. This made it very difficult for the Sixers to find any offensive success. Loose balls and turnovers were turned into fast break points. This young group would again come out on top by the score of 46-23.

The quest for a championship continued even earlier Sunday morning against Team High Rise, who seemed to be outmanned from the very beginning. The CAVS team defense was relentless and the offense clicked on every cylinder leading up to a final score of 59-2. We would need the same kind of effort to win a championship.

Sunday afternoon came and so did the championship game against SCA/Cal Hoops. SCA/Cal Hoops also had their way with the teams in their pool,winning their games by double digits. This would be a great test for both teams. This game would not disappoint! Both teams started off very aggressive. For most of the first half, the teams went back and forth like two heavyweights in a championship fight, going toe to toe and ended up with a halftime score of 27-27. A few adjustments and a friendly reminder of the importance of staying focused, playing hard and smart and the CAVS were back on the floor ready to go to work. The intensity picked up for both teams during an exciting second half. Tempers flared as one player for SCA/Cal Hoops was ejected for fighting late in the game. Again… the CAVS composure prevailed. We were able to get some big plays at both ends of the floor from a number of players when it counted most. This turned out to be a good decision by the coaching staff as the final seconds ticked off the clock to a 46-39 victory for the CAVS and a well deserved championship. Great finish for a short notice tournament!

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.