Indy Gym Rats….Championship Sunday & USA!

Hello All,

It’s safe to say that our teams have been getting it done this spring on the AAU circuit! Our 8th grade team has been rocking and rolling with three championships to add to their resume. The 10th grade Purple has two and our Silver team has two runner ups, that’s something we all should be very proud of. All five teams have represented the Dayton area and WGNBC with outstanding play at some highly profiled events. Last up, the best tournament in Ohio, the always competitive All Ohio Midwest Showdown in Cincinnati, Ohio. Time to lace up and be ready to ball out!

I want everyone to know that Huber Heights stand out and our very own Shai McGruder was chosen to go out to Boulder, Colorado to the USA basketball U16 trials!!! She is one of 32 girls in the United States that received the special invite. There were an additional 100 kids that were selected through an application process. Shai, her mom and her Wayne Coach Sonya Miller headed out there last week for her to compete for a spot at the 6 day event. Congratulations to a special young lady who we all know will make us all proud regardless of the outcome. To my knowledge there is 3 rounds of cuts that she has to survive to make the team, if she makes the team Shai will be leaving early June traveling across the country playing international competition. Shai you do your thing!!!

I was blown away to say the least about the competition and the facilities of the Indiana Gym Rats Club. The comp was highly competitive for every age group. It was more like a museum of Indiana hoops and wall of fame. As we all know the state of Indiana loves basketball.

We again turned some heads and earned some respect from some very well respected club teams. Our 8th grade team as stated above won it all in the Silver division, but more notable they lost by only eight points by All Ohio in pool play. Some say that All Ohio 8th grade team is the best in Ohio. If so, we have a very good team and I’m sure we will see them again. Both the Silver and the Purple teams clashed in an epic battle in the bronze championship game. There were lots of spectators watching the game mainly because it was two teams from the same program battling it out. The game was physical to say the least, the Purple team pulled it out edging their little sisters in a intense battle.

Next up the Midwest Showdown hosted by All Ohio. Like last weekend there will be some very good teams in the building. I hope all the girls are ready to play and represent WGNBC. Please refresh your minds and body to compete one last time before we all split ways until July.

Lastly, Special Shout out to our two youngest players in the entire program Khala Powell (KP) and Autumn Taylor. Both of these young ladies have come so far and have improved immensely. Thanks to their parents for sacrificing playing their own age groups to get better for tomorrow. Shout out to my buddy Rick King, when I am up tight on the bench he keeps me smiling and laughing, and hey where did he learn how to dance?! I see you Rick in the circle with girls. One last shout out to Shai, we are all so proud of you. Good Luck!

Yours in Hoops,

Coach T…