Girls: Rose Classic Semifinal Round

BROOKLYN, NY- Sunday's mornings semifinals at the Rose Classic meant each team was just 1 win away from making it to where every team strives to get when September begins, the Rose Classic Championship.

It wasn't going to be easy for any of the 4 teams still involved though. All 4 teams remaining are of championship caliber, and with each wanting a title the very best was going to be needed if you wanted to break through and make it to afternoon and the championship game.

Both games proved to be of the highest level of play, and with the stakes now even higher, you could tell how each possession proved to be extremely important. NYCHoops.net was on hand for the action in Fort Greene and we now take a look back as we recap the action from the semifinals.

With the Demons taking out Havoc City of Washington DC in the last quarterfinal early on Sunday morning, it was a semifinal matchup against the Lady Bulls (also known as the Lady Choz) awaiting them in the afternoon.

It was a matchup chock full across the board of stars, and from the start the stars were out in force putting their imprint onto this one.

Katie Kinum (New Providence, NJ '17) came right out and knocked down a 3 ball from the left wing to give the Demons the quick lead, but with Earlette Scott (South Shore '18) coming right back and hitting a trey of her own you knew that this game was officially on from the very beginning.

Scott went on to score the first 7 for the Bulls getting them going early, and when it wasn't her scoring they looked inside for Selena Philoxy (South Shore '17) who didn't just do damage around the rim, but also stepping out and showing that she could thrive putting the ball on the floor and attacking the rim.

It was a back and forth contest though as Julia Cunningham (Watchung Hills, NJ '17) was able to keep the Demons tight with her perimeter play knocking down numerous long two ball from just inside the arc, but with just under 2 to play in the opening half it did seem as if the Lady Bulls were going to edge out a bit.

Destiny Philoxy (South Shore '18) scored on a two on one with her sister in transition, and when Danielle Robinson (Shabazz, NJ '18) scored attacking her defender in the halfcourt, the Lady Bulls took their largest lead of the game at 27-21 with 22 seconds to go.

Kinum was able to score off a steal in the closing seconds though just when it looked like the Lady Bulls would hold for the last shot, getting the Demons a bit closer at 27-23 at the half.

The tightly contested opening half which was played with a high level of intensity slowed up a bit at the start of the second with sloppiness on both ends taking over as the team's traded turnovers before a driving layup by Philoxy allowed the Lady Bulls to bump the lead up to 8, which would be their biggest of the game with 11:15 to play.

A scooping layup by Kinum off a steal got the Demons just a bit closer, and when Cunningham stepped back and knocked down another long 2, once again the game was back within striking distance for the Demons.

Every time the Lady Bulls looked as if they were going to pull away off a big basket by Philoxy or Robinson, the Demons were able to hold on and stay close, and when Kinum hit on 4 straight FT's with 3:35 to go in the game, it was 36 all and it was once again anyone’s ballgame.

The Demons had chances to take the lead on back to back possessions, but one bad miss on a three, and another turnover allowed the Lady Bulls to grab the lead back when Scott hit on a long jumper.

Charlotte Leurs (Lehman '18) was a big force inside late for the Lady Bulls as she was a big defensive weapon blocked shots off drives to the rim by the Demons, and she scored off an important feed from Philoxy to score and make it a 4 point Bulls lead.

Having been a great 3-point shooting team for most of the Rose Classic you had to think that the Demons would make a big triple late to put pressure back on the Lady Bulls, but Cunningham missed a big one from the left side late that could've made it a 1 point game, and when Philoxy hit on a short jumper just inside the FT line with 12 seconds to go, she put the game away for good.

A late Demons bucket by Kinum made little difference as time would soon after run out on their Rose Classic title hopes as when the final buzzer sounded it was the Lady Bulls taking a 48-44 victory to propel them into the championship game.

Robinson led the way for the Lady Bulls in the win with 14 points, while both Philoxy and Scott added 10 for them as well helping give them a chance for the Rose title.

In defeat, it was Kinum who had a game high 16 points, with Cunningham adding 15 points in the loss that ended their Rose season.

For much of the opening half this was a tough and competitive game, but a Tori Harris (Half Hollow Hills West '17) three ball at the halftime buzzer gave the Sparks a 5-point lead, and it propelled them to a dominating second half to run away for a 22-point win.

Team Miller Elite came out with a strong harassing defense that led to mistakes in the backcourt from the Sparks, and with Camille Gray (Franklin, NJ '18) knocking down back to back runners in the lane they were able to take a 12-9 lead with 5:25 left in the first half.

The Sparks came back with Lynette Taitt (Bishop Loughlin '17) hitting on a floater in the lane over the interior defense of Team Miller, and when Qadashah Hoppie (The Patrick School, NJ '17) was able to score on a 2 on 1 drive, they had taken their first lead of the game at 18-16.

It looked as if that would be the halftime score as the Sparks had the ball as time wound down but Harris was pressured well past the 3-point line. She spun around and threw up a prayer at the buzzer that shockingly went in, giving the EYBL power a shot of confidence as the half ended putting them up at the break 21-16.

That shot didn't just end the half on a good note, but it pushed them into a big start to the second half as well as Gabi Reddem (Rutgers Prep, NJ '17) could finish going at 2 defenders inside for a bucket, and with Hoppie and Michelle Sidor (Saddle River Country Day, NJ '19) each making plays in the open court the Sparks were able to go from a 16 all tie to going up 36-22 with 6:06 to go in the game.

A close game late in the first half turned into a runaway for the Sparks as Raven Farley-Clark (The Patrick School, NJ '17) began to impose her will on the game down low as the game wore on as with too much strength and size in the paint, and too many shooters and playmakers in the backcourt they took control and never looked back.

Diamond Miller (Franklin, NJ '19) was strong with the ball in her hands and pulling up in the midrange for buckets for Team Miller Elite in the second half, but with too many weapons all over the floor the Sparks ultimately pulled away and easily took the 48-26 semifinal win.

The team effort win for the Sparks saw them have a balanced scoring attack led by Farley-Clark who scored 10 points, while Harris and Hoppie each added 9 points, with Sidor chipping in with 8.

It was Miller leading Team Miller with 11 points in the loss, while Gray scored all 7 of her points in the opening half.

So, the Rose Classic Championship Game was set as it will be the New Jersey Sparks, a Nike EYBL team, facing off with the Lady Bulls, a former Nike EYBL team, for the title at 5pm on Sunday evening in what is sure to be a game to remember.

Quarterfinal Recap Story