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The championship round of the sixth annual GymRat Challenge was held Sunday at Siena College and the University. Here are some of the highlights courtesy of GymRat Director of Communications Steve Amedio.

Saratoga Sparks Wins GymRat Title;
Albany Capitals Fall in Championship Game

LOUDONVILLE -- The Saratoga Sparks AAU basketball team captured the championship of the 14-under age division of the prestigious GymRat Challenge Tournament held this weekend at Siena College, while a second local team, the Albany Capitals advanced to the 15-under age bracket's title game before having its tournament run come to an end.

The event featured 156 teams from 11 states and Canada and over 1,750 players competing in three age brackets.

The Saratoga Sparks won the 14-under age bracket's championship game with a 56-40 victory over the New York Gauchos Sunday night at Siena's Alumni Recreation Center.

Sydnie Rosales, who will be a sophomore at Colonie High School next year, was the age division's MVG (Most Valuable GymRat). Rosales, a 5-foot-8 guard, played a strong overall game and scored five of her team's final nine points as the Gaunchos pulled to within seven with 3:30 left to play.

The Saratoga Sparks team was coached by Serita Holland, a graduate of Shenedehowa High School, and finished the tournament with a perfect 7-0 record.

Other players on the team were Kelsey Colwell of Mohanasen, Jackie Welch of Colonie, Katherine Small of Holy Names, Madison Rowland of Shaker, Brittany Lefevbre and Allyssia Marsal of Shenendehowa, Ailayia Demand of Watervliet, Sidney Hansen of Ballston Spa, Cassie Broadhead of Scotia, Alyx Gleason of Shenendehowa and Lashana Tolliver of Watervliet.

The other local team to advance through pool play and, then, the championship bracket, the Albany Capitals, didn't fare quite as well in the 15-under championship game, suffering a 51-19 loss to a team from the high-powered New York Gauchos program.

The Albany team is coached by Audra DiBacco, the head coach of the varsity girls' team at Catholic Central High School and a former standout player at Siena College.

DiBacco's Albany Capitals' team was 6-0 in the 15-under bracket with strong overall team play to advance to the championship contest before its tournament run ended.

Team members of the Capitals are Brooke O'Shea and Bridget Carney of Averill Park, Jenniffer Cillis of Voorheesville, Hannah Kutny of CCHS, Sarah Madden of Voorheesville, Geena Gallo of Ballston Spa, Cristal Benton of Guilderland, Molly Lauver of Cambridge, Allie Olsen of Bethlehem, Sarah Janson of Scotia, Bernie Jordan of Holy Names and Ashley Loggins of Colonie H.S.

This was the 6th annual GymRat Challenge tournament for girls and it marked the first time two local teams advanced to championship-game play in the same year.

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The parking lot behind Siena College's Alumni Recreation Center told the story of the sixth annual GymRat Challenge girls AAU basketball tournament Saturday afternoon. Cars with license plates from around the country packed the spaces, as some of the best players in the country hoped to catch the eye of the many coaches on hand.

Women's college basketball coaches were out in force at the first day of competition in the sixth annual GymRat Challenge held at Siena College and the University at Albany Saturday afternoon. Action continues Sunday at both locations. (First three photos by Mike McMahon - The Record).

It was a beautiful day to be outside Saturday, but 1,750 girls decided to spend the day indoors, competing against each other in the sixth annual GymRat Challenge at Siena College and the University at Albany.

Pool play wraps up Sunday morning and championship round action begins early Sunday afternoon. Tickets are still available. Admission is $10 at the door.

Greenwich native Dani DeGregory, of the Albany City Rocks, looks to make a pass during Saturday's game against the Central Jersey Cardinals. Albany won, 60-41.

A number of local teams were in action Saturday, including the Albany Capitals and the Saratoga Sparks. I decided, however, to catch up with two local small-school stars, Dani DeGregory and Katie Roth, who play for the Albany City Rocks.

Playing in the Wasaren League and Patroon Conference, respectively, they don't get the caliber of competition day-in and day-out during their high school regular seasons that they need to prove their worth to Division I college coaches.

AAU tournaments provide them that opportunity.

"It’s good to play here (with the City Rocks) because it’s really where you’re going to get better over the summer and take things back to high school," Roth said. "I wouldn’t say one is more important than the other, though. Here, you’re getting looked at by college coaches. But high school is representing where you go to school and where you come from. I enjoy playing with both and I like everyone on both teams."

Spectators were scattered among the seven courts seeing action Saturday at Siena College, but unlike most high school basketball games, the atmosphere was subdued.

"The Wasaren League is really competitive and the game Katie and I played against each other in was really intense," DeGregory said. "Everything we play here is equally intense. I like playing with both teams. Both teams are awesome to play with. Getting looks from college is great, but high school is really important, too."

The Saratoga Sparks' 16-and-under team, featuring Cohoes High School star Bailei Tetrault (right, with ball) was among the 156 squads in action Saturday. 1,750 players are involved in the event.

Although DeGregory and Roth both list basketball as their favorite sport, they're both three-sport athletes in high school.

Roth plays volleyball and throws the shot put and discus for the Maple Hill track and field team.

DeGregory plays field hockey and softball for the Witches.

We'll have more on the supposed decline of the three-sport athlete ( I think these two athletes are a great example of how that trend is not going out of style, even with their basketball specialization) when our Ben Franklin Project is published on July 4th.

Greenwich High School sophomore Dani DeGregory is hoping that a stint with the Albany City Rocks this summer will increase her exposure among college coaches.

DeGergory and Roth squared off when their teams met on March 8 in the Section II Class CC/C playoff. (Click here to read about that game in the archive).

The gym at Adirondack Community College was packed that day with fans and fellow students, who carried signs and banners and screamed at the top of their lungs. The action at Siena on Saturday was much more subdued...a bit of polite applause here and there...but the intensity on the court was just the same for the players.

"I guess the intensity is always pretty high," DeGregory said. "Out here, you’re looking for college coaches, but in high school, it’s the same thing. Here, you get more exposed so you definitely want to play as hard as you can every day."

And for small-school players like Roth and DeGregory, AAU basketball offers them an opportunity they just could not get playing for their high school teams.

Maple Hill High School junior Katie Roth recently made a verbal commitment to the University of Hartford, an opportunity she attributed to her time with the City Rocks the past two years.

For some video highlights and more quotes, click on the video below.

The Albany Capitals' 16-and-under team, featuring Holy Names' Sarah Agan (right, with ball), won the 15-and-under title a season ago. Over 100 local players will be competing in the two-day event.

For the full story, be sure to check out Sunday's edition of The Record.

We'll also have a big story on former Catholic Central High School boys basketball coach Don Bassett and more on this year's class in the Capital District Basketball Hall of Fame.

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Katie Roth (40), seen here competing in the New York State Class C Final Four this March at Hudson Valley Community College, a University of Hartford-bound junior at Maple Hill High School, will be competing with the Albany City Rocks in this weekend's GymRat Challenge. (Photo by J.S. Carras - The Record).

Steve Amedio, the Director of Communications for the GymRat Challenge, has passed along the following notes and rosters in advance of this weekend's tournament in the Albany area. Plenty of local high school basketball stars will be taking the court this weekend. For rosters and schedules, scroll to the bottom of this post.

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This year's girls GymRat Challenge tournament brings 156 teams, over 100 local players, 1750 total players from 11 states and Canada and thousands of spectators to the area for games at Siena College and the University at Albany.

WHAT: The largest girls’ AAU basketball tournament on the East Coast.
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, June 19 and 20.
TIME: Saturday: games continuous from 8 a.m. through 11 p.m.; Sunday from 8 a.m. until the conclusion of championship games at 7:30, 8 and 8:20 p.m.
WHERE: Siena College and the University at Albany.

A local team, the Albany Capitals, won the 15-under division last year and most of its players will be back to try to win another title at the 16-under division, the highest age bracket. Champions will be determined at the 16-under (mostly current high school juniors), 15-under and 14-under age divisions.

Among the Capitals’ players competing this year are Siena-bound Tehresa Coles of Colonie High School and Catholic Central’s Taliah Pounds, last season’s Most Valuable GymRat at the 15-under division.

Also among a strong contingent of local standouts is Maple Hill’s 6-foot-2 center Katie Roth, who has given a verbal commitment to play at 2009-10 America East champion Hartford next season. Close to a dozen local players who will play here this weekend are being recruited by some level of Division I college teams.

This is the event’s sixth year, and while its longevity doesn’t match its boys’ tournament counterpart, its list of standout players who have appeared in the GymRat is extremely impressive.

Included is Epiphany Prince, who played in the first two years of the GymRat and, recently, was the No. 4 pick overall in April’s WNBA draft.

Last year’s tournament brought Syracuse’s Breanna Stewart to the area. She is currently rated the No. 1 player nationally in the high school class of 2012. Another standout who is scheduled to return for her third straight year in the GymRat is Betnijah Laney of Philadelphia, the No. 12-rated player in the class of 2011 nationally.

Graduates of last year’s event have moved on to join a number of major college programs including UConn, Boston College, Virginia, Ohio State, Maryland, Syracuse, Virginia Tech Providence and Vanderbilt. Past participants can be found at high-major level college teams from every conference nationally.

The majority of players who have appeared here in the past have gone on to play at some level of college competition.

This year players will come to the Capital Region from 11 states and Canada for what has become the largest girls’ tournament in the east, and one of the nation’s premier showcases for young basketball talent.

Admission is $10 per day, or $15 for both games and covers all games at all sites. In all, 280 games will be played. Reasonably priced concessions and event-related wearing apparel will also be available for purchase.

Teams will play a minimum of three contests with teams competing in the championship game getting up to seven games over the two days.

Here’s a list of local teams with rosters and preliminary round game times participating in this year’s event, along with the game times of their preliminary round games:

16-under division

ALBANY CAPITALS 16N
Game Times: Saturday 12:20 p.m., 4:40 p.m., 9 p.m., all at Siena.
Roster: Tehresa Coles, Colonie; Taliah Pounds, CCHS; Shannon Allen, Warwick; Sarah Agan, Holy Names; Lea McClain, Mohonasen; Jaci Hinchey, Onteora; Hillary Kollar, Johnston; Emily Kirby, Bethlehem Central; Amanda Batzold, Columbia; Allie Setter, Shenendehowa; Alexi Howland, CCHS.

ALBANY CAPITALS/Dart
Game Times: Saturday 10:10 a.m, 7:55 p.m.; Sunday 9:05 a.m., all at Siena.
Roster: Alexis Alteri, Colonie; Angelica Smith, Shaker; Catherine Howe, Waterford; Christina Alley, Shaker; Clara Alison, Albany; Molly O’Bryan, Averill Park; Monica Chappodi, Guilderland; Tessa Baker, Mechanicville; Tori Coronanto, Colonie; Whitney Ballou, Albany.

ALBANY CITY ROCKS
Game Times: Saturday 12:20 p.m., 4:40 p.m., 9 p.m., all at Siena
Roster: Katie Roth, Maple Hill, Janae Lyde, Bishop Maginn, Dani DeGreory, Greenwich, Arriell Mussi, Liverpool, Briana Kiessel, Utica Proctor, Coriesha Hickey, Corcoran, Donnaisha Fountain, New Charter School, Khadejah Ellison, John S. Burke H.S.; Sarah Longto, Kingston; Tianna Johnson, Brockton H.S.

SARATOGA SPARKS
Game times: Saturday 1:25 p.m., 4:40 p.m., 10:05 p.m., all at Siena.
Roster: Alexis Perryman, Queensbury; Ashley McCaughan, Niskayuna; Bailie Tetrault, Cohoes; Danielle Beauchamp, Cohoes; Danielle Conley, Scotia; Haley VanOrman, Arlington; Kalie Sanboeuf, Scotia; Kelly Mahar, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake; Maggie Smith, Shenendehowa; Mallory Dickson, Shaker; Mandi Edick, Shenendehowa; Megan Rogers, Shenendehowa; Taylor Whyte, Ballston Spa.

15-under division

Albany Capitals/DiBacco
Game times: Saturday 10:10 a.m., 7:55 p.m. at UAlbany; Sunday 9:05 a.m., UAlbany.
Roster: Ashley Loggins, Colonie, Brooke O’Shea, Averill Park; Bridget Carney, Averill Park; Jennifer Cillis, Voorheesville; Hannah Kutny, CCHS; Sarah Madden, Voorheesville; Geena Gallo, Ballston Spa; Cristal Benton, Guilderland; Molly Lauver, Cambridge; Allie Olsen, Bethlehem Central; Sarah Jenson, Scotia; Bernie Jordan, Holy Names.

Albany Capitals/Matthews
Game Times: Saturday 12:20 p.m., 4:40 p.m., 9 p.m., all at UAlbany.
Rosters: Courtney Donlon, CCHS; Julie Mia, Averill Park; Emily Blow, Voorheesville; Heather Lewis, Saratoga; Kelly VanEpps, Guilderland; Kolbie Robinson, Colonie; Megan Matthews, Saratoga; Amanda Kernozek, Guilderland; Monica Compton, Schenectady Christian; Allie Smith, Columbia; Amber Maiello, Mechanicville; Samanta Tornack, Duanesburg.

Saratoga Sparks
Game times: Saturday 1:25 p.m., 4:40 p.m., 10:05 p.m.
Roster: Lauren Woods, Shaker; Emily Weber, Shenendehowa; Erica Vallacorsa, Shaker; Brehanda Stratton, Albany; Mary Kate Cusack, Shenendehowa; Laura Kipper, Colonie; Ali Lewis, Shenendehowa; Mackenzie Rowland Shaker; Kylie Small, Holy Names, Christina Spicer, Holy Names.

14-under division

Albany Capitals
Game Times: Saturday 9:05 a.m., 3:35 p.m. at UAlbany; Sunday 10:10 a.m. at UAlbany.
Roster: Bridget Murphy, Bethlehem Central; Mary Kate Murray, Holy Names; Mikayla Farrara, Mt. Anthony; Emily Sischo, Guilderland; Mikayla Deguire, CCHS; Brinkley Leagacy, Mt. Anthony; Anna Feller, Voorheesville; Kate Goodell, Mt. Anthony; Jacquelyn Miller, Argyle; Faith Welch, CCHS; Allison Nunziato, Averill Park.

East Side Hoop Stars
Game times: Saturday 10:10 a.m., 7:55 p.m. at UAlbany; Sunday 9:05 a.m. at UAlbany.
Roster: Morgan Rush, Averill Park; Megan Crock, Columbia; Claire Everitt, Averill Park; Anna Bryce, Albany Academy for Girls; Jenna Horton, Averill Park; Maria Holland, Averill Park; Christine Roy, Averill Park; Maddie DiNardo, Columbia; Eden Zeller, Averill Park.

Saratoga Sparks
Game Times: Saturday 1:25 p.m., 4:40 p.m., 10:05 p.m. all at UAlbany.
Roster: Kelsey Colwell, Mohonasen; Katherine Small, Holy Names; Madison Rowland, Shaker; Sydnie Rosales, Colonie; Allyssia Marsol, Shenendehowa; Ailayia Demond, Watervliet; Sidney Hansen, Ballston Spa; Cassie Broadhead, Scotia; Alix Gleason, Shenendehowa; Lashana Tolliver, Watervliet.

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With local families spending in upwards of $1,000 per summer per athlete to have them compete on elite-level travel teams, we here at The Record are curious and are looking for your input. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

On July 4, all newspapers in our chain will be publishing an edition through the use of free online tools only. But that's only half the story. We're also looking for you, the readers, to help us tell your stories. It's part of a one-time only edition, but we're also looking to make this a regular piece of how we put the paper together every day. For more information, click here to read more on the Ben Franklin project.

Do you have any horror stories from money wasted on fees for travel teams? Or did that experience help you (or your son or daughter) earn a Division I or Division II scholarship that saved a pile of money in the long run?

Because of this specialization, is the three-sport athlete dead?

We value your stories, experiences and ideas and would greatly appreciate your input in putting this project together. If you would like to share, please contact me via email at troyrecordsports AT gmail DOT com or call me at the office at 518-270-1246.

Thanks for reading.

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Update No. 2: Andrew Santillo covered the event Saturday and caught up with Siena College recruit Rob Poole. For the story, click here to read it on www.troyrecord.com

Update: Our Andrew Santillo has a story on the Capital District Raptors, which you can read by clicking over to www.troyrecord.com

The 2010 GymRat Challenge boys basketball tournament will be held this weekend at Siena, UAlbany and Skidmore Colleges.

212 teams and 2,400 players are expected to attend, making it one of the largest tournaments in the northeast.

We hope to have coverage this weekend and you can also read more at Steve Amedio's MAAC basketball blog, Keepin' Track of the MAAC.

There will be plenty of future Division I players in attendance, so catch them on the way up.

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The Albany City Rocks 17u Black Team will be showcased by ESPNU on Monday, July 27th at 5:30 p.m.

The City Rocks finished third overall at the Peach Jam event in South Carolina earlier this month, a tournament open to some of the top AAU teams in the nation. Basically, it's an all-star extravaganza for the best high school basketball players in the country.

While the City Rocks are based in Albany, some of their best players come from out of the area.

Will Regan (pictured above, from Williamsville, New York), who has made a verbal commitment to the University of Virginia, joins

Tobias Harris (above, Half Hollow Hills, Long Island) as the City Rocks' two most visible prospects. Harris has been labeled as one of the biggest high school standouts in the New York Metro area by downstate media outlets and is being chased by some of the biggest Division I programs in the country.

Local basketball fans may be familiar with two of the members of the City Rocks backcourt, which includes Jamel Fields (above), who will enter Fairfield University in the fall of 2010 and

Taran Buie, who led Bishop Maginn High School to a state championship in 2007-08. Buie, a rising senior in high school, has decided to join brother Talor Battle at Penn State in the fall of 2010.

Nolan Hart (Albany Academy), Derrick Millinghaus (Schenectady), Mike Murray (La Salle Institute) and Kameron Ritter (Christian Brothers Academy) are among the other local players on the team. Ritter in particular is drawing the interest of Division I coaches and all four of the players in this last group lead a talented group of returnees to local high school teams for the 2009-10 season.

The Albany City Rocks are one of 24 teams competing in the Peach Jam this week in North Augusta, South Carolina. The event is one of the premier recruiting spots for big-time college coaches, such as Roy Williams (North Carolina) and Mark Few (Gonzaga), among others.

Albany's Tobias Harris (actually, he's a native of Dix Hills, N.Y.) has made a big impact in the frontcourt for the City Rocks.

Harris grabbed the lead in an ESPN feature and was the subject of an USA Today article this morning, where he was compared to Carmelo Anthony.

I can't find much in the way of a bracket or updates on scores - most of the information online is about how these prospects are impressing or being wooed by the college coaches. If you have a link or more information, please feel free to post it in the comments.

The information we received from the team says they advanced to the Elite 8 and may appear on ESPN for a feature on the Peach Jam in the coming days.

Front row left to right: Nolan Hart, Mike Murray, Kyle Callanan, Kameron Ritter, Derek Millinghaus, Taran Buie, Dylan Tully. Back Row left to right: Pat Moore, Hippolyte Tsafack, Jayon James, Tobias Harris, Will Regan, Brice Kofane, Jamel Fields. Missing: Davon Whitaker.

Class of 2010 prospect Taran Buie skies in for a dunk during Thursday's 16-under AAU Super Showcase. (Photo - Les Bentley for ESPN.com)

Bishop Maginn junior-to-be Taran Buie was featured in a picture and a story by Reggie Rankin on ESPN.com last week after leading the Albany City Rocks to a second-place finish in the national 16-and-under AAU tournament in Orlando, Fl.

Click here to read the whole story.

Maginn won the 2008 NYS Class AA title and earned a berth in the Federation Tournament of Champions. Maginn lost a few keys seniors to graduation -- Shimeek Johnson (Fairfield), Terron Victoria (Skidmore) and Antonio Davis (Norwich University) will be dearly missed -- but with Buie ascending, the Griffins are poised to make another run at a state title in 2009.

The Albany City Rocks 16-and-under team is making noise at the AAU National Championships in Orlando, Florida.

Tobias Harris of Long Island led the Rocks to a gigantic 64-58 victory over the touted YOMCA squad from Memphis, Tenn.
Local standouts such as Taran Buie (Bishop Maginn, #12) and Kameron Ritter (Christian Brothers Academy, #22) are also a part of the team.

According to the bracket from the AAU, the final tonight begins at 8:30 pm.

(click for the full-size version)

In the meantime, check out the Rocks' photo gallery.

Taran Buie, a junior-to-be at Bishop Maginn High in Albany, had a very impressive few days at the Peach Jam AAU basketball event in North Augusta, South Carolina this week.

According to Rivals.com, Buie put up 25 points against the Alabama Challenge and also led the City Rocks' defensive charge.

Big-time Division I schools are all knocking down the door for him, but Buie said he's taking his time making a decision for now. He does still have two more years left and a state title to defend at Maginn, after all.

The City Rocks' 16-and-under team on which Buie plays fell to Team Final in the championship game, 71-58. Team Final is made up of players from around the northeast.

Here is a link to the City Rocks' website.

Lansingburgh shortstop Joe Winston (23) chases Schalmont's Shane Musk in a rundown. (J.S. Carras)

The Lansingburgh Knights gave it a great effort Wednesday afternoon, but just could not cap a comeback rally over Colonial Council rival Schalmont.

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The Lady Knights played very well on Thursday, defeating Holy Names 4-1 in Colonial Council action. It wasn't easy though.
Holy Names left two runners on in both the fourth and sixth innings - Lansingburgh pitcher Erin Glikes was able to pitch the Knights out of two jams.
Glikes made a great defensive play in the fourth, looking back the runner to third before firing to first for the first out of the inning. Shortstop Sarah Cipperly made a great catch to end the inning and she also hit an inside-the-park home run in the first.
Lansingburgh catcher Meg Volz also made a great catch in foul territory in the top of the seventh.
Center fielder Kayla Coles was three-for-three, a triple, two singles and two runs scored. Carissa Russell (third base) was two-for-three with one run batted in.
Holy Names' Sarah Karpovich went two-for-three with two doubles. Catcher Gaby Elsbree was one-for-one, but also reached base on a walk and was hit by a pitch.

The Lady Knights should have their hands full in the Colonial Council this year. Cohoes, Mechanicville and Holy Names are all tough adversaries. But, as long as they play smart defense like they did on Thursday, I think they can hang with anyone.

--
Here were my preseason softball dream teams that ran in the softball preview section last week.
There were some tough choices to make, so tell me, who else is due for a big year?

Large Schools

P Toni Fusco, Colonie

P Erin Glikes, Lansingburgh

P Nikki Heddrick, CCHS

P Dana Rizzo, Columbia

P Colleen Whalen, Shaker

C Amanda Perry, South Glens Falls

1B Olivia DeMarco, Catholic Central

2B Molly McDonough, Lansingburgh

3B Kayla Lynch, Colonie

SS Barb Shea, Shenendehowa

OF Shannon Jones, Troy

OF Leanne Merchant, Burnt Hills

OF Lauren Napoli, Guilderland

Small Schools

P Brianne Fahrenkopf, Rensselaer

P Megan Fitzgerald, Tamarac

P Courtney Galuski, Cohoes

P Jen Mineau, Hoosic Valley

P Mikayla Wells, Schuylerville

C Jessica Dearstyne, Cohoes

1B Bryanna Plummer, Schuylerville

2B Jess Pipino, Hoosic Valley

3B Meghan Welcome, Cohoes

SS Laura Burek, Rensselaer

OF Beth Deer, Holy Names

OF Lindsay McKeever, Mechanicville

OF Kat Kulzer, Tamarac

Small Schools

1. Hoosic Valley

2. Cohoes

3. Mechanicville

4. Tamarac

5. Schuylerville

6. Rensselaer

7. Spa Catholic

8. Waterford

9. Maple Hill

10. Holy Names

Large Schools

1. Colonie

2. Columbia

3. Troy

4. South Glens Falls

5. Catholic Central

6. Shaker

7. Shenendehowa

8. Lansingburgh

9. Schenectady

10. Burnt Hills

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Pretty nice setup at the City Rocks' AAU media night at SUNY on Thursday. Jim Janson of Scotia won the dunk contest, mainly because he was the only player that could actually dunk. (Being 6-11 helps a bit in that regard).
What players and teams should we be watching AAU-wise?

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As always, drop us a line or leave a comment if you have something to say. Any other softball and baseball teams we ought to be looking out for? Any track and field records being broken?

-- Will Montgomery