Wizards, Cavs Claim 10-11 Boys Hoops Crowns

The Green Hornets 10/11-year-old boys club basketball season finished up with two close games on February 24 at Severn School as the Wizards topped the Thunder 25-19 to take the A bracket title and the Cavaliers beat the Magic 23-18 to win the B bracket championship.

The top eight teams from regular-season play competed in the A bracket, and the league’s seven remaining teams filled the B bracket.

The Wizards’ victory capped an undefeated season and came against a Cinderella Thunder team that fought its way to the final as the No. 7 seed. The league’s top offensive team all year, the Wizards deployed league-leading scorer Ryan Alston, who averaged 14.6 points per game. The A bracket champs also benefitted from the speed and agility of Collin Buckley; assists and defense of Aiden Hill; rebounding of Owen Dinsmore; clutch scoring of Charlie Friedrich, who had two game-winning baskets during the season; athleticism and defense of Parker Montagne; and rebounding, hustle and defense of Carter Ignacio, Evan Parsons, Brayden Hilliar and Ryan Jamison in going unbeaten.

“Overall, the team improved leaps and bounds from start to finish,” said Wizards head coach Kurt Dinsmore. “They played hard and were always willing to learn and implement new plays to keep their opponents guessing. Each player was critical to the Wizards’ success.”

The Cavaliers’ season was one of continual improvement. The eventual B bracket champs started their season with back-to-back losses and came into the playoffs with only two wins, but rallied to win their final four games, including their hard-fought championship victory over the Magic. Cavs players John Caswell, Price Conner, Luke DeBaugh, Chip Fitzgerald, Tommy Fallon, Michael Fallon, Brendan Gardner, Trevor Oakes, Warrick Simm and Parker Smith never gave up despite early struggles, said head coach Bobby Conner.

“These kids have really come together this season,” he said. “We have come so far from the beginning of the season, and I’m incredibly lucky to have a team of kids like this. Their attitudes and effort have been non-stop positive, and they have had a tremendous amount of fun playing this season.”