The 10U team competed in the California Heat Memorial Day Tournament in Pasadena.　 The first game would be against the San Pedro Knights.　 The CAVS started the first half with 2 quick steals by Isaiah Roby and Jonathan Daniels.　 Austin Olsen and Isaiah Luckey proved to be offensive threats in the first half. The CAVS were leading at half time 23-10.　 The second half started with 2 lay-ups from Michael Irving.　 Elliot Strickland and Michael Irving were able to control the boards throughout the game.　 The CAVS won 36-25.

The next game was against Top Flight.　 This game was very competitive. Both teams were playing with great defensive intensity.　 The first half was close with the CAVS leading 15-14.　 The second half started with scores from Max Silverstien and Isaiah Crooks.　 Unfortunately missed free throws and fouls lead to the CAVS losing 36-27.

On Sunday, the first game was against the California Heat.　 The CAVS had to win this game to get to the championship.　 Isaiah Roby started the game with a quick score from the tip.　 Jonathan Daniels and Michael Irving were strong offensively in the first half.　 CAVS were able to stop the CA. Heats offensive attack with defense from Anthony Spann, Isaiah Crooks, and Austin Olsen.　 At the end of the first half the CAVS were leading 18-7.　 The CAVS kept their offensive composure with scores from Elliot Strickland, Max Silverstien, and Isaiah Luckey.　 The CAVS won 41-20.

The championship game was against the Simi Valley Cagers.　 The Cagers came out strong making their first 3-point shot.　 The CAVS responded with a lay-up from Isaiah Roby.　 Jonathan Daniels, Isaiah Crooks and Michael Meadows applied defensive pressure which lead to Cager turnovers. Isaiah Roby, Michael Irving and Elliot Strickland were an unstoppable force on the boards.　 The score at the end of the first half was CAVS 22 - Cagers 15.　 In the second half the CAVS never let up defensively or offensively.　 Michael Irving was a consistent scorer under the basket and on the perimeter.　 Michael Meadows, Austin Olsen and Jonathan Daniels were able to score with aggressive drives to the basket.　 Aggressive defense from Anthony Spann, Max Silverstien and Isaiah Luckey lead to the CAVS victory. The final score: CAVS 45 – Cagers 26. Great game CAVS!

The CAVS 11U participated in the SE Warriors/ SP Knights “Cinco de Mayo” basketball tournament May 15th and 16th.  The CAVS would have to be ready for the challenge as the team was playing in the 12U division.  The CAVS opened pool play against SGV.  The CAVS started the game quickly.   DJ McDonald and Brian Deveraux hit open shots early as the CAVS used their full court press to force turnovers.  The CAVS jumped ahead early 8 -2 as the defense led the way.  Taj Regans and Elijah Walker pushed the ball up the court to force the tempo of the game. Remy scored on some open shots from the field, and at halftime the CAVS led 19 – 4.  The second half was riddled with turnovers and fouls, as both teams struggled to find their offensive rhythm.  In the end, the CAVS went on to win 32 – 19.

The next opponent for the CAVS was Desert Storm.  Desert Storm was a big team and the CAVS would need to work tirelessly to offset the Storm’s size advantage.  DJ led the way as he opened the game with some open shots.  Remy and Kihei Clark drove to the basket to get the Desert Storm’s post players in foul trouble.  Midway through the first half, the CAVS jumped out to a 9 – 3 lead.  Sharp shooting helped push the CAVS lead to 14- 6 at halftime.  As the second half started, the CAVS used their full court press to force multiple turnovers.  Taj and Brian both hit open shots off of turnovers.  Halfway through the second half, the CAVS built up a 25 – 8 lead.  The CAVS began getting into foul trouble and some mental mistakes caused the big lead to slip away.  The CAVS won the game 28 – 20.

The CAVS finished as the number one seed and were looking forward to the playoffs.  The CAVS faced the ACES in the opening playoff game.  The CAVS started the game with tenacious defense.  The CAVS were outsized but made up for it with speed and quickness.  The CAVS forced multiple turnovers and jumped out to an 11 – 4 lead.  Off the bench, Franklin and Colden Davis provided solid defense, which led to easy scores.  At halftime the CAVS led 31 – 19.  In the second half, the CAVS started strongly but the game turned into a foul fest.  With 5 minutes left in the game, the CAVS had 3 players foul out.  The ACES were not giving up and were fighting their way back into the game.  When Chasen fouled out of the game, the CAVS did not have a lot of size to match up evenly against the ACES.  With 5 minutes left, the CAVS clung to a 37 – 33 lead.  The CAVS kept their composure.  DJ kept the ball in his hands, and the ACES were forced to foul him.  DJ knocked down some big free throws.  The ACES were also in foul trouble and were playing with less than 5 players.  The CAVS went on to win 45 – 40.

The CAVS needed one more victory against SGV to make it to the championship.  The CAVS had already beaten SGV the previous day and were looking for a much more competitive game the second time around.  SGV was ready for the CAVS game plan this time.  The SGV players were much bigger down low and their post players were grabbing every rebound.  Midway through the first half, the CAVS trailed 11 – 12.  The CAVS kept fighting as Elijah and Taj both hit some open shots to regain the lead.  At halftime the CAVS led 23 -2 0.  In the second half, the CAVS defense was very stingy.  Remy and Franklin pushed the ball up the court after every rebound.  The CAVS went on to win 39 – 32.

The team had earned their place in the championship game to face the Santa Ana Mountaineers.  The Mountaineers had several large players that the CAVS would have to defend against.  The CAVS used their speed and pressed full court.  The Mountaineers could not handle the pressure and had multiple turnovers.  Midway through the first half the CAVS led 12 – 9.  The CAVS kept the pressure up as the guards pressured on the perimeter.  Down low, Chasen Pender and Cody Hamlin tried to disrupt the tall post players as much as possible.  At halftime, the CAVS had built a 27 – 15 lead.  In the second half, the CAVS continued to press full court.  The CAVS guards were relentless.  For a few minutes, the Mountaineers could not get the ball past half court.  The Mountaineers were still within striking distance as the CAVS only led 38 – 27 with 6 minutes left in the game.  The CAVS guards continued to penetrate and drive to the basket to get the Mountaineers in foul trouble.  The Mountaineers were not giving up and continued to get easy lay-ups.  Behind their leader DJ, the CAVS regained their composure.  The defense tightened up and the CAVS went on to win 48 – 41.  Congratulations CAVS on a great championship. 

April 30 through May 2, 2010, the CAVS traveled to Palm Springs in hopes to complete a task that has eluded them in their last 3 outings. That task was simple, win a championship.

Friday night’s game would be against the East LA Heat. Even though the game would start late, The CAVS would remain focused and get off to a fast start while using good ball movement on offense and swarming defense. The active defense would force many turnovers and spark a transition game that this young group has worked so hard to perfect. Final score, 49-6.

On Saturday morning, the CAVS would face off against the Team AZ Stars. This game had many of the same elements as Friday’s game against the East LA Heat. More swarming defense led to many fast break opportunities. And when the CAVS had to execute on the offensive end of the floor, everyone seemed to be on the same page as the offense seemed to be running on all cylinders. Final score, 46-9.

Saturday evening posed a slightly different look while facing the Corona Lakers. Similar to the LA Lakers, this team had two big guys roaming the paint. But the CAVS would not be denied. Although the talented but young group would play a little sluggish at times, they were able to limit the Lakers opportunities down low and hound the Lakers guards with their pressure man to man style of defense again forcing key turnovers that led to transition opportunities. Final score, 53-23.







Pool play was now complete with the close of Saturday’s games. Sunday began the final stretch to get to and hopefully win the championship.

The CAVS would learn Saturday that they would face the tournament hosts… the Long Beach Sixers in order to advance to the championship game. The formula was simple… back to the basics. The CAVS went back to the swarming defense and the ball movement on offense that would lead to victory… and a trip to the championship game later that day. Final score 48-12.

The Familiar Foe

The championship game would bring to the court a team that is very familiar with the CAVS and their style of play. The California Heat and the CAVS have had many opportunities to face each other in championship games. These two teams bring out the best in one another. The game started with the CAVS transitioning the ball very well against the trapping defense of the Heat. Some tough calls and some costly turnovers allowed the Heat to make a fierce comeback late in the game. Watching a 10 point lead slowly slip away, The CAVS would dig in and get a few key stops down the stretch to pull out a 1 point victory (43-42). Big players make big plays in big games. More so than winning a championship, the guys proved that teamwork and perseverance can overcome many obstacles. Congratulations CAVS and much more success will come with all the hard work that you put in.