MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- The Blue Bolts faced off against the Snakes in a 5- to 6-year-old division youth basketball season game at the Iron- Works Gym sports courts here Feb. 10.
Being a 5- to 6-year-old game, no score was kept since the focus is for the children to practice teamwork and have fun. The Blue Bolts aggressive offense was able to show up the Snakes defense.
The Blue Bolts defense wasn’t as awesome as its offense was as Dylan Rakestraw, Snakes power forward, was able to shoot past the Blue Bolts defense to sink a basket.
The Blue Bolts defense kept at it, but was overwhelmed by the Snakes offensive attack ending the first quarter.
The Blue Bolts players used lightning fast speed for their offense to out maneuver the Snakes defense to start the second quarter.
“We’re looking a lot better and working as a team,” said Eric Chrostowski, Blue Bolts head coach. “For the third game, I think we’re doing pretty well.”
Ronald Pearcy, Blue Bolts power forward, showed exceptional skill by taking the ball from one end of the court to the other to shoot a bucket.
“My team was awesome,” said Pearcy. “We scored a lot.”
The Snakes didn’t want to be outdone and tried to charge again.
That was until Sean Slaughter, Blue Bolts center, stole the ball and passed to Janna Baldelomar, Blue Bolts small forward, who missed the shot.
Aubrey Rakestraw, Snakes center, rebounded and continued the battle for her team until a time out was called with 3:11 left in the second quarter.
“We tried to pass the ball around, get the rebounds and control the tempo of the game,” said Andy Delgado, Snakes replacement head coach. “When the kids are at practice, we get them to focus on passing, dribbling, free throws and layups.”
Burt Breazeal, Blue Bolts center, ran the ball behind enemy lines only to have his chance thwarted by Noah Valdez, Snakes point guard.
The Blue Bolts offense wouldn’t let up and continued the fight until Zane Rupple, Snakes center, tried to steal the ball but went out of bounds with it.
The Blue Bolts offense rose again as the players ducked, dodged and outmaneuvered the Snakes defense throughout the third quarter.
Sweat poured and teeth grinded as the players clashed at the start of the fourth quarter.
The Snakes offense took off, but possession ended in the Blue Bolts players’ hands.
Both teams continued to go at each other viciously until Slaughter sank the last ball of the game.
“From what I saw tonight, the focus on the next practice will be to pass the ball to the open man so that he can make the shot,” Delgado said.
Both teams showed improvements on their teamwork by passing to open players.