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FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. The Lower Fairfield County-based Connecticut Premier Hoops U-13 basketball team swept its way through the Hooperstown Classic tournament last weekend in Mount Vernon, N.Y. The team, led by Greens Farms Academy varsity coach Doug Scott, has compiled 28 wins in the 2012 spring season, and the Classic was the teams fifth tournament championship.
All four Hooperstown tournament victims were New York teams. Premier kicked ?it off by dismantling the host team, Hooperstown Huskies, in a 69-22 romp. Sean Morris of Stamford fueled the Premiers running game with terrific court vision and ball movement. Hayes Kelchner of Fairfield showed an impressive range of talent. In the first half, he dominated the low post with a classic big mans game. In the second half, he stayed out top and ran the offense from the point guard position. Westports Mack Muller was the muscle man in the paint, leading in rebounds and scoring 14.
In the second game, Premier continued to show off its excellent depth and balance, with five players scoring in double digits. They bounced the Long Island Lightning, 71-37. Tyler Sweeney of New Canaan dropped in 16. Muller and Justin Seideman, also of Westport, dropped in 14 and 13, respectively. Jack Williams of Wilton put in 12. Williams was impressive in all four games, playing all five positions during the course of the tournament. Zak Swetye of Darien was the best defender on the floor and scored 10 points in game two, after scoring a dozen in the first game. Jackson Cote of Wilton led all players in blocked shots.
In the Sunday morning opener, guards Sweeney, Williams and Carter Scott of Darien played every minute of the game and denied the Westchester Huskies from scoring on all but two shots from the perimeter. The shorthanded Premier team scaled back its running attack, and instead relied on tough defense to secure the 49-29 win.? Ryan Allen of Norwalk and James Crovatto of New Canaan were dominant around ?the basket. The Huskies tried to slow Allen by hacking him, but he made them ?pay by hitting 9 of 10 from the free throw line. Crovatto scored 11. Scott bombed in three 3-pointers.
For the championship game, Premier defeated the New York Gauchos in convincing fashion, 64-31.
"I have to give the Gauchos coach credit, said coach Doug Scott. He tried every defense in the book, but our players were just too good for his, regardless of what they tried.
In the title game, Premier brought in the fresh guns of Jackson Ryan of Darien and Chris Swanson of Weston. Ryan was the mastermind of reading the Gaucho defenses and setting the counterattacks. He led the game in assists, dropped in threes and scored on the break. Swansons early hot hand forced the Gauchos to alter their defensive tactics, attempting to deny Swanson any more touches. Sweeney and Williams led all scorers with 12 apiece. Crovatto and Allen led all rebounders.
Next weekend, the Premier will stay in state and complete in the Elite Sports Championships in New Haven.
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