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Local Hoops Travel Team Shines

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Contributed by: Tim Oldemoppen on 4/29/2008

They may only be Freshmen and Sophomores but that didn't stop the Treasure Coast based Florida Rams Blue, age 16 and under, Boys' Travel Basketball Team from winning the age 19 and under Division 1 Championship of the recently conducted United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) Treasure Coast State Qualifier Basketball Tournament.

The Team went 4-1, winning 3 single-elimination games on April 27th, the final day of the Tournament, including a 46-43 win in the Semi-Finals to send home a highly ranked Jupiter Jaguars 19U Team, and followed that 2 hours later with an impressive 60-50 win over the South Florida 19U Rockets in the Championship Game at Jensen Beach High School, to win its third consecutive USSSA Tournament Title, this season.

The Team's 12 Player Roster (9 Sophomores and 3 Freshmen) has representation from 9 different area high schools covering a 3 county area (Palm Beach, Martin & St. Lucie Counties).

The majority of these players come from the starting lineups of their high school varsity basketball teams and most have multiple years of past travel team success. Six of the Team's players played together for the USSSA 15 and under Division 1 State Runner-Up last season.

With 7 of the players ranging in height from 6'-4" to 6'-8", and excellent guard play, this Team has proved difficult for opponents to contain.

While many of these players compete against one another during the high school varsity basketball season, they have joined forces for the travel season and are bringing further attention to the high level of basketball play on the Treasure Coast.

Having gone undefeated (8-0) in winning two previous USSSA Division 1 Tournament Championships in its own age group, in the Miami and Ft. Lauderdale areas, with a 23 point per game average margin of victory, the players decided to "play up" in the Treasure Coast Tournament, seeking better competition. Overall, the Team currently has a 16-3 record in USSSA and Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Tournaments.

The Team, which has the highest USSSA Power Ranking of any age 16 and under Division 1 Team in the Nation, has qualified for, and will enter, the USSSA State Championship Tournament being conducted May 30 - June 1, in the Treasure Coast area.

This Adidas aligned Florida Rams Blue Team has also qualified for entry into the 2008 AAU National Championships, to be conducted July 24-30 at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex as a result of its performance at the AAU Disney Spring Classic April 18-20, attended by over 200 top teams from around the country, going 4-2 in its Division One, 16 and under age group, to place 4th overall at this National Event.

The AAU Disney Spring Classic Tournament was highlighted by wins over 3 different Top AAU Teams from Georgia, and a 62-59 quarter-final victory over previously undefeated Florida Elite 16U, the 2007 USSSA State Champions. A two point overtime loss to Georgia's G.T. Stars Black, in the semi-finals, was all that kept the Florida Rams Blue from playing in the Tournament's Championship Game.

The Team is led by Coach Fred Brown, long-time area youth basketball coach and grandfather of current Kansas State University rising Sophomore guard, Fred Brown III, the P.B. County 2007 Boys 6A / 5A / 4A Basketball Player of the Year.

Next up for the Florida Rams Blue is the USSSA Jupiter Courier Jam, May 9 -11.

PICTURED ABOVE:

Left to right kneeling: Mark Moore (5'-11" Sophomore, P.B. Lakes), Cory Reid (6'-0" Freshman, Port St. Lucie), Chris Harris (5'-10" Sophomore, Port St. Lucie), Matt Elam (5'-11" Sophomore, P.B. Lakes), Mike Nestler (5'-11" Sophomore, Benjamin)

Left to right standing: Coach Dick, Casey Oldemoppen (6'-6" Sophomore, Martin County), Derrick Davis (6'-8" Freshman, Dwyer), Rick Shemanski (6'-7" Sophomore, Jupiter), Greg Louis (6'-6" Freshman, Suncoast), Gerald Christian (6'-4" Sophomore, Dwyer), Will Sheehey (6'-5" Sophomore, South Fork), Chris Minor (6'-4" Sophomore, P.B. Gardens), Coach Fred, Coach Dante

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