Girls 5th-Grade Division

Liberty (22) - Hot Shots (2)

On this day, you could hear the Liberty Bell ring all the way from Walnut Street in "old Philly," as the Liberty rang the bell for 22 points in an "all-American" team effort. The game started off close and was tied after the first segment; with only two points separating the teams at the end of two segments. Then the Paul Revere "freedom riders" (a.k.a the Liberty) took to the motto of two by "field goal," and one by "free throw," and proceeded to go on a midnight ride outmanning a game "Hot Shots" team defense. Liberty's Amy Levine led the "cavalry" with the first four baskets, followed by Leah Heisler and Nicole Crystel's crisp ball handling and more scoring. Ronnie Shalem violated the opponents' "bill of rights" by making numerous steals and great passes. Amanda "boom boom" Bader and Katie "kareem" Lombardo dominated both ends of the boards and denied the opposition the "freedom" to roam the paint.

Lady Storm (8) - the NBA (5)

A big storm was brewing over the East Hills gym when the Lady Storm took on the NBA Saturday afternoon in what amounted to a titanic defensive struggle. Lady Storm sharp shooting resulted in baskets by the skillful Emily Crane and the speedy Rachel Hollander. The Lady Storm's Brooke Rubenstein and Jaime Kaye astounded the crowd with their "swoop and swipe" rebounding while Nikki Gordon, Mariah Ditkowich, Samantha Abram and Lindsay Wolkowitz were "relentless in making the opposition's offense "defenseless." Lady Storm's "quarterback" Rachel Rubin showed impressive ball control and precise shooting in the second half.

Hurricanes (16) - Hippy Hoopsters (10)

The Hurricanes came ready to deliver their own brand of weatherizing to a "Woodstock-happy" squad "trying to come in from the rain." The Hurricanes, hampered by a short bench, were long on energy as Samantha Peters and Wallace Back rode the eye of the hurricane to repeated drives through the paint. Hurricanes' Devin Gaynor and Samantha Schwartz pounded the defensive boards with level 5 wind gusts, while Caralyn Friedman patrolled the passing lanes with wind force gales on the way to a convincing weather-influenced victory. The Hippy Hoopsters were a proud squad ready to do business. The team was invigorated by a Friday night practice which convinced this squad that "tye dye" was not "bye-bye" but rather "oh my" and "how high (can we go?)?"

Dukettes (10) - All Stars (4)

Was it really true? Were the Dukettes' coaches really giving up their day jobs, and resigning from their coaching duties in response to their fans' urge for them to go out on tour as a "top 40" acapella trio? The "Enquirer wants to know." Anxious fans lined the sidelines waiting to hear a few verses by these coaches from their hit song Duke, Duke, Duke or Earl; Shoot, Shoot, Whirl and Hurl." But alas it was not to be, as fans would have to settle for some real basketball entertainment in the form of a "textbook defensive exhibition" by the Dukette players (intent on upstaging their coaches) against a very underrated all-stars squad. The Dukettes' combined offensive rebounding by Cody "boom boom" Rosen and Arielle "gotcha" Kristal, "paytonesque" defense by Gena Olan and Arielle Lubman and "kiddsian" ball handling and "a steal a minute" by Lauren "hot feet" Grant and Ricki "happy feet" Shenfeld to help the Dukettes keep climbing the "top 40" charts for another big win. Now never underestimate a "breitner flavored all-star."

Girls 6th-Grade Division

Georgetown (28) - Turkeys (14)

This game had the potential for being either a blowout, a letdown or a nailbiter. You guess what happened. A "mixture." This game was a real nailbiter with a close score in the first half showcasing determined rebounding, shots dripping off the rim, and fabulous ball handling by both squads. Georgetown asserted its "hoya toya energy" in the second half against a very strong game Turkeys squad on the strength of outstanding offensive rebounding by Erica Scalavino, pinpoint ball control by Keely Lang, tenacious play in the paint by Sarah Sincoff, and "blurring" slashes to the rim by Morgan "bring it on" Carella. Georgetown continued its second half version of a "Thompsonian pummeling" with strong post presence by Tori Neu, "a rebound a minute by the unstoppable Sasha "mini shaquette" Hiller, and lightning quick defense courtesy of Melisa Oken to hold the Turkeys' feet firmly in the "giblet gravy."

The Max (12) - Wizards (10) O.T.

In the most exciting game of the season for The Max, a four-point final segment deficit was erased and turned into an overtime victory, proving once and for all this Max team cannot be taken lightly come playoff time. The Max's backcourt rotation of Michelle Anavim, Jenny Forrest and Tracey Kitaeff kept up an offensive attack that produced numerous open hoop shots and lay-ups. The Max's Hallie Bendell cleared out the lanes with her determined penetrations to the hoop while Rachel Shipper and Blair Lipkin accepted tough defensive assignments, and clamped down on the opposition. The Max's defensive specialists Mital Patel and Maddie Weinstein sealed off the passing lanes on defense, and filled the same on offense. By the time the game had ended, an exhausted "The Max" team all agreed they could get used to this type of celebration. The Wizards were not to be taken lightly, and true to form, made this battle a spectator's dream with their continued evolution into a "west coast run and gun road show."

Superstars (12) - Dunkaroos (10)

It was simple, it was inevitable and it happened. Non-stop dribbling, defensive pressure, and a game that was decided by a last minute basket. The Superstars, as predicted, are making that end of season race up the standings, and today's challenge and last minute success against a determined, and fashionably attired Dunkaroos squad was no exception. The Superstars combined stupendous rebounding by Margot Leeds and Jenny Paulenoff, slashes through the paint at warp speed by Natasha "tasha" Port and Jessica "it's my paint" Thaler, a shooting clinic by Samantha "three point" Arnowitz, and relentless, and we mean relentless defensive stands by Dara "nobody gets by me" Bernstein to earn this week's previous win.

Patriots (14) - Rockets (12)

There was so much "pre-game speculation about this game that the Roslyn News considered printing a special pull-out section devoted exclusively to this game. This game pitted the Abeles coached "rocketship" who has been powering on all cylinders against the Wick+2Bruces coached Patriots who have never wavered from their patriotic mission all season. The Rockets blasted off from the opening whistle taking a four-basket lead courtesy of a "non-stop offensive orbit" around the offensive glass by Amy Halpern, Ilyse Silverman and Samantha Krieger, combined with "rousing rocketry to the rim" by Rachel Abeles and Hallie Dunn. The Patriots used their half-time break to re-strategize, and came out with renewed and reaffirmed "patriotic fervor" in the second half.