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Pink Whistle: Blake Tournament fourth grade final

Upper Saddle River, NJ - The annual Blake Classic, a week long hoop fest featuring boys and girls teams grade four through eight, is a personal favorite. It is always an honor to work a championship and on Sunday the assignment was the fourth grade girls game, Upper Saddle River vs. Fair Lawn.

Pre-game greeting the coaches, the Fair Lawn coach, Alaya Martinez, recognized me from working her games and grade school and high school. She played in college before a knee injury curtailed her career. Often one stays around to coach his/her son or daughter and exits. Upper Saddle River’s coach has been with the program at least six years-which lends stability to the program through the continuity.

We are in a very small gym at Bogert School in Upper Saddle River. The court is small but features a new floor and lighting. There is no three point arc, ergo no three pointers. Four seven minute stop (on dead ball) periods with pressing permitted only the last two minutes of each half.

The first half teams trade one possession leads. No one really gets a run of any sort as Fair Lawn held a 12-10 lead at the break. A few points are evident early. Upper Saddle River’s ‘go to’ girl is a #13. She alone, though, cannot carry the entire load. Fair Lawn is running a basic, yet well organized, offense.

Third period stayed close. Upper Saddle River is zoning and Fair Lawn responds showing good patience in zone offense. In the fourth Fair Lawn managed to string together a few baskets while getting defensive stops. Both teams played better offensively those final fourteen minutes. In the final analysis, as good as #13 was, she did not have the complimentary contributors. Fair Lawn had better balance, closing out a 30-21 victory and the championship.

A good competitive game on the fourth grade level. A level that can be an adventure to referee or coach. Worthy of repeating, Upper Saddle River was led by a coach with experience, as well as dedication, in the program. Fair Lawn, under the tutelage of Ms. Martinez, a former player giving back through her work on the sidelines. She is assisted by Jimmy Graff- a former head boys varsity coach for many years. In these days when finding good, knowledgeable and patient (as these were) coaches is extremely difficult- the young ladies of both teams are truly blessed. They are under the guidance of very knowledgeable and enthusiastic mentors, capable of teaching the game.

Championship game appearances and titles are special. Just as, if not more, important is enjoying and learning how to play the game.