MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- The Celtics destroyed the Xtremes 32-9 in a 10- to 12-year-old youth basketball season quarterfinal playoff game at the IronWorks Gym sports courts here March 10.
Johnny Baseel, Celtics’ center, won the tipoff.
The Celtics started the game off with a commanding 6-0 lead when Baseel and Sakura Hagensieker, Celtics’ small forward, converted several steals within the first five minutes.
Clinton Taylor, Xtremes’ point guard, took a trip to the line and put the Xtremes first point on the board 6-1.
Baseel put up another layup before Taylor rallied the Xtremes. He dished the ball to Mike Tangalon, Xtremes’ center, who ducked through the Celtics’ defense to get a layup ending the first quarter 8-3.
Taylor started the second quarter by closing the gap by sinking a jump shot.
Possession went back and forth during the second quarter.
Baseel added a point to the Celtics’ score after a trip to line closing the second quarter 9-5.
“We could pass more to the open man, but what we really need to work on is defense,” Taylor said.
Baseel kept up the attack when he made a layup at the beginning of the third quarter.
Taylor struck back with a two-pointer of his own.
Baseel answered back with another layup and stole the ball for another two points making it 15-7.
Baseel was fouled after he stole the ball again and was two for two coming off the line giving the Celtics a comfortable 17-7 cushion.
“(The Xtremes) need to get more defense fundamentals down, but it was good enough to not let me pass the ball around as much as I wanted to,” Baseel said.
Later, the Celtics started another offensive onslaught, putting another eight points on the board before Taylor converted on a steal making it 25-9 at the end of the third quarter.
“We got a lot of great rebounds and we were able to box them out,” Don Delaria, Celtics’ head coach said. “We started working on fundamentals since day one. I was glad to see my players utilizing what they’ve been taught.”
The Celtics’ defense then tore down the Xtremes’ offense and capitalized on multiple steals in the fourth quarter.
Baseel put up many of the shots to pull away from the Xtremes 28-9 halfway through the quarter. This pattern continued for the rest of the game.
“In this age group, I think it’s important that they have a good grasp on the fundamentals of the game so when they get older they can learn more advanced techniques,” Delaria said.
With 40 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Darren Alfafara, Celtics’ forward, stole the ball and dished to Baseel who made the last layup of the game ending it 32-9.
“Youth sports is about teamwork, camaraderie and having fun,” said Andy Delgado, Xtremes’ head coach.
With this victory, the Celtics continue to the semifinals.