St. Kevin’s of Flushing was the unknown team coming into St. Teresa’s Brooklyn Queens Tournament with some of the best competition of its age group.
It took just one game for spectators and coaches to know that St. Kevin’s is a very deep and well-coached basketball team.
After games one and two, coaches from the other teams that participated realized that the constant changing of defenses and structured offense showed characteristics of college and high school teams, since the fifth-graders have knowledge of nine different defenses and a variety of offenses. Head coach Jimmy Lana and assistant Terry Cannon think it should be an easy transition for players who want to participate at the high school level.
The coaches believe some of their players will make an impact when playing in the next level in the years to come. St. Kevin’s knocked off team after team with its smothering pressing defense and offensive skills.
St. Kevin’s made it to the finals against St. Teresa’s, a well-coached and amazing outside shooting team. St. Kevin’s was down by eight at half time; however, it continued an amazing display of defense, held St. Teresa’s scoreless in the fourth quarter and came up a little short for the game.
St. Kevin’s was awarded second place. Coaches Lana and Cannon were very proud of the way St. Kevin’s exhibited sportsmanship and professionalism in representing St. Kevin’s and the Bayside and Flushing area.
