Tuesday, March 22, 2011

More Accolades!!

- Wagner went undefeated in district for the fourth consecutive year and finshed 3rd in the final TABC rankings. This may be coach Tina Camachos' finest coaching performance. Camacho lost 4 college bound players from last years' team, including Divison 1 players, Len'Nique Brown(USC) and Michelle Rodriguez(UTA). In addition to Brown and Rodriguez, the T-birds lost spirited leadership/toughness in Ashlin Catlett and the high scoring ability of Chelsea Solis. Camacho also lost her long time and very instrumental assistant coach, Triva Corrales to Judson.

Camacho took her team to state with a relatively inexperienced back court. Only UTA bound star, Eboni Watkins, had solid varsity experience coming into this year. Twins, Aundrea Davis and Andriane Davis did a great job with closing the gap at the guard position this season. Freshmen players, Corinna Moncada and Ashley Ross both stepped up big at crucial times. They will team up with Kiarra Rivera to make Wagner one of the top teams in the city next season.

- TABC- Besides Wagner(#3), two area teams also finished in the Top 25 in the TABC final rankings. John Jay finished at #19 and Stevens coach, Anissa Hastings led her team the #22 spot in her first year.

- TABC All-State- The following players were named TABC All-State: Danielle Blagg(Smithson Valley/4A), Eboni Watkins(Wagner/5A) and Arielle Roberson(Wagner/5A), Erica Donovan(John Jay/5A- second year all-state selection)

- TABC All-Region- The following players were named TABC All-Region:

Brooke Allemand(Champion/4A)
Carmen Maciel(Median valley/4A)
Chamaya Turner(NB Canyon/4A)
Danielle Blagg(Smithson Valley/4A)
Erica Hernandez(Floreville/4A)
Shana Holmes(Southwest/5A)
Alexis Govan(Stevens/5A)
Alexis Sendejo(Stevens/5A)
Arielle Roberson(Wagner/5A)
Carly Truesdale(Churchill/5A)
Ebony Easter(O'Conner/5A)
Eboni Watkins(Wagner/5A)
Erica Donovan(John Jay/5A)
Kiara Taylor(John Jay/5A)
Leslie Vorpahl(Churchill/5A)
McKenzie Calvert(Steele/5A)*
Niaga Mitchell-Cole(Roosevelt/5A)
Taylor Calvert(Steele/5A)*
* What a honor for a family to have two all-region players in the same year. Congrats to the Calvert sisters.

Congrats to all the all-region and all-state players for this great accomplishment!!

Arielle Decides!!

Wagner star, Arielle Roberson has decided to attend the University of Colorado. Roberson led her Lady T-Birds to the state semis this season. Roberson is the MOST WINNING player in 5A basketball in the city over the last decade. She has never lost a district game in her career.

Roberson was a freshman on a Wagner team that went to the state semi's. She finished her career in the state Final Four. Unfortunately, Roberson was suffering from the flu and was not 100% for her last high school game.

After playing the sidekick to SA great, Len'Nique Brown(USC), Roberson proved that she can be Bat(wo)man this season by averaging close to 20 points for the #1 team in the city. Roberson showed the ability to put the ball on the floor and create shots off of the dribble.

Roberson has to be among the few candidates for city MVP, Erica Donovan and Alexis Govan the others. Roberson made TABC and TGCA All- State teams. Roberson, the unanimous 25-5A MVP, will join brother, Andre, at the University of Colorado.

Congrats Arielle!

Friday, March 18, 2011

Meighan Simmons -SEC New Comer of the Year

Meighan Simmons has been named SEC New Comer of the Year. Simmons led the Tennessee Volunteers in scoring as a freshman. Tennessee was one of four #1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament.

Simmons has also been named as a candidate for the Naismith Player of the Year. Fans of Simmons can vote for Simmons using this following link.

http://uverseonline.att.net/sports/textalert/naismith-awards

Congrats Meighan!!

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

USA Basketball Invites......!

Congrats to Recee' Caldwell 2014(Johnson) and McKenzie Calvert 2014 (Steele) for both being invited to tryout for the USA 16U Basketball Team. The selection committee chose 35 players from two classes, 2013 and 2014. The invitees were reportedly split pretty evenly with half of the players coming from both classes. Only 12 players will be chosen.

Tryouts will be held May 26-30 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team will compete in Mexico in the FIBA World Qualifiers against the best players the world has to offer.

These two players are in rare company. Only Meighan Simmons(Tennessee) has been invited to USA tryouts WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL in recent local history.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Season Ending Quick Hitters!

The high school season is over and Wagner reigned supreme. The high school season saw a lot of great new stars and a lot of the same. Some quick hitters follow:





Eboni Watkins- Eboni helped lead her Wagner T-Birds to the state semis. The performance she put on in the second half vs the eventual champs, Irving Mac, was truly incredible. Watkins scored 18 points in the second half with a variety of runners, floaters, and three point bombs. Watkins put her Lady T-Birds on her back and made a game out of what was becoming a run away for Mac. Watkins was in the middle of a run that had ESPN Hoopgurlz tweeting about her when disaster struck. Watkins had just executed a perfect Euro Step layup(a move that would have been called a travel in SA) that drew oohs and aahs from the crowd. She caught a pass on the left wing and attacked middle. As she planted to complete another Euro Step, her knee buckled. The gasp from the crowd explained it all. To see such a brilliant performance halted by a nasty injury was nothing less than horrible. A recent MRI confirmed that Watkins tore her ACL. The improvement in her leadership and her ability to score in droves underscores how hard work and perseverance pays off. Watkins gave all she had to her squad, including her healthy knee. Her efforts should be applauded by all.





Farewell to the Brilliant- Some SA players deserve special recognition for helping sustain the city's ascendancy on a national level. Arielle Roberson, Erica Donovan(NC State), Sune Agbuke (Baylor)Alexis Govan (Western Kentucky) and Danielle Blagg (Tulane) wrapped up great careers and are moving on to the next level. Eboni Watkins(UTA)Taylor Calvert(Winthrop), Asha Hampton-Finch (Prairie View A&M), Alison Salmon, Shana Holmes, Lauren Zoldey (Angelo St.), KiKi Taylor (Texas Southern), Shanesha Clayton and Marissa Rodriguez all had very good high high schools careers. Good luck on the next level ladies!



TGCA All-State Team- Congrats to the following players for making the TGCA All-State Team:



5A- Texas Girls Coaching Association All-State Team

Ariell Roberson(Wagner/TeamXpress)- Senior

Lauren Zoldy(Steele/SA Comets Elite)- Senior

Recee' Caldwell(Johnson/SA Finest)-Freshmen



4A- Texas Girls Coaching Association All-State Team

Danielle Blagg(Smithson Valley/South Texas Hoyas)-Senior

Erica Hernandez(Floresville/South Texas Hoyas)- Junior




Hoopgurlz Love- Local players or players with local ties were featured in a Hoopgurlz article.

Eboni Watkins- Wagner(Lady Rohawks)
Kyrstal Forthan-Georgetown(TeamXpress)
Brianna Bogard-Georgetown(TeamXpress)
Arielle Roberson-Wagner(TeamXpress)


Nike Regional Skills Academy- Congrats to San Antonio freshmen McKenzie Calvert and Recee' Caldwell for being invited to the prestigious Nike Regional Skills Academy in May. Both players have also received letters from USA Basketball stating that they are being considered for tryouts for the 16U. The USA 16U will be representing our country vs the world in Mexico this upcoming June. This consideration is even more impressive when considering that both players are technically eligible to play 14U, and 2-3 years younger than most others under consideration.