Rising Stars: Highlights and Stories from YM Athletics Summer Shootout 2024
Written By Elijah Wells
The 2024 Summer Shootout Was A Great Success!
YM Athletics hosted their Summer Shootout 2024 event from July 20 – 21, 2024. The event provided a platform for the younger generation to showcase their talent and skills. Summer Shootout invited boys and girls to participate in this tournament, varying from the 4th to 12th-grade division, providing them with an opportunity to pursue their basketball dreams. Consider the amount of young talent that goes unnoticed due to limited media coverage. The purpose of this event was to give students an opportunity to make their presence known in the basketball world.
Event Organization and Highlights
Event managers Victor Rozier and Duaine Ford orchestrated this event. They made the arrangements applicable to gather talented players eager to participate in the tournament while also providing accommodation for them and the audience, including YM Athletics merch, food, and drinks. Summer Shootout featured numerous games between various teams, highlighting impressive performances from players who gained significant recognition. As the Sports Media Intern for this event, Rozier and Ford tasked me with conducting post-game interviews to provide detailed insights into players’ thoughts, reactions, and mindsets based on each game’s outcome. We also collected information on how different teams prepared for their games, including specific game plans and in-game adjustments that contributed to their success, as well as their plans moving forward.
Notable Games and Performances
Team Final Black 2029 vs. Jersey Drive
Game Results:
Team Final Black secured a dominant 53-19 victory, led by Evan Pacetti’s 13 points.
“I think our defense was one of the main reasons for our immense success in this game,” said Pacetti. “We moved the ball effectively and shot well as a team.” There’s no question that Pacetti had a phenomenal performance, but Team Final Black 2029 demonstrated exceptional execution as a unit.
H.O.C vs. Peak Skills
Game Results:
H.O.C emerged victorious with a 47-34 win, thanks to strong performances from Sabur Maddred and Noah Richardson.
Notes / Highlights:
H.O.C orchestrated a sensational performance against Peak Skills, winning this game 47 to 34. Sabur Maddred and Noah Richardson scored a combined 20 points, being the main contributors to their teams’ victory. “I could’ve done better defensively,” said Maddred. “Offensively, I felt my performance was amazing. I need to improve my ability to find my teammates more effectively, and that’s something I plan to work on over the summer.” Great teamwork and strategic coaching were key to H.O.C’s victory.
South Jersey Lady Starz vs. Peak Skills
Game Results:
The Lady Starz dominated with a 45-17 win, led by Reilly Byrnes and Khalia Lewis.
Notes / Highlights:
Reilly Byrnes and Khalia Lewis for the South Jersey Lady Starz put together an electric performance against Peak Skills, leading their team to a 45 to 17 victory. They combined for 30 of their teams’ 45 points, serving as the main catalysts for their team. Collectively, the South Jersey Lady Starz demonstrated phenomenal production offensively and defensively.
Summer Shootout also showcased close games that came down to the final shot and final possessions. The crowd witnessed players being able to stay composed and perform under extreme pressure to win competitive games down the stretch.
YM Athletics (White) vs. YM Athletics (Gray)
Game Results:
A close game ended with YM Athletics (White) winning 60-57, with Edwin Drummond and Bashir Holmes leading the scoring.
Drummond scored a team-high 16 points, and Holmes scored 13 points to conclude this game. “I didn’t have the best start to the game,” said Holmes. “Eventually, I found my rhythm and got myself and the team going, which sparked my performance for this game.”
Additional Tournament Highlights
BYRD Elite
BYRD Elite secured a three-point victory over the South Jersey Jazz with the final score being 27 to 24. Dean Flowers and Brevin Kitchens established their on-court presence throughout the
game, leading their team with a combined 15 points. BYRD Elite winning this game down the
stretch showcased their competitive nature and ability to capitalize on their opportunities under pressure.
Disrespectful Shooters
Disrespectful Shooters was victorious against Diesel winning 37 to 30 with Demetrius Hudson
scoring a team-high 12 points. “Scoring and going to the rim was the key for us to win this game,” said Hudson. “Us playing as a team and consistently getting back on defense was essential for us to remain composed to win.” Amazing team chemistry for the Disrespectful Shooters was the highlight of their success.
F.O.G Elite
F.O.G Elite won an absolute thriller against League Bound Elite behind an elite performance
from Titus Bacon scoring 21 points. This was a competitive game from start to finish, but F.O.G Elite overcame the obstacles League Bound Elite put in front of them. “We put the pieces together and did what we had to do,” said Bacon. “We were happy to play together and work
hard as a team to overcome their play style. Listening to my coach and being ready to play was the key to my remarkable performance.”
Rozier and Ford conducted the Summer Shootout awards ceremony, thanking the guests and players for their immense support and effort for the event. Specific players and contributors to the event were highlighted and praised for their hard work in the tournament. The ceremony allowed players to reflect on their basketball journey and celebrate their achievements with family and friends.
Rozier & Ford Thank All Who Competed & Attended
Rozier and Ford conducted the Summer Shootout awards ceremony, thanking the guests and players for their immense support and effort for the event. Specific players and contributors to the event were highlighted and praised for their hard work in the tournament. The ceremony allowed players to reflect on their basketball journey and celebrate their achievements with family and friends.
Conclusion
Overall, Summer Shootout 2024 was a success. From the exceptional hospitality and the electrifying crowd to the thrilling basketball games, this event was truly memorable. It was a superb experience to interview and interact with the players, and regularly update the YM Athletics social media handles throughout the tournament, disclosing the final score and stats for each game.
The positive feedback from the audience was also noteworthy. The relatives of these players were very thankful for the services provided as a courtesy of YM Athletics. Family members appreciated witnessing their players perform on the court, being interviewed after strong performances, and enjoying the event.