2009 Junior Orange Bowl Girls’ Basketball Classic:

December 28, 29, & 30, 2009 (Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday)
Miami Dade College, Kendall Campus Gymnasium

The field has been finalized for the 2009 Girls' Classic.  Teams participating will be:

National Teams:

West Springfield (Springfield, VA) – 2003 Junior Orange Bowl Classic champion, an always competitive squad, completed 2008-09 with a record 22-4, where their leading scorers were freshman April Robinson & Logan Battle.  West Springfield girls’ basketball coach Bill Gibson, who started at West Springfield in 1986-87 and has amassed over 500 wins and two state titles in the 23 years since.  He has had only one losing season at West Springfield, his first one.  His 1998-99 team finished 30-0, ranked # 5 in the country, and featured Kara Lawson who was named Naismith Player of the Year.

John Marshall (Chicago, IL) – 2008-09 record 24-7; finished 3rd in Illinois 3-A state tournament; coach Dorothy Gaters was honored at the McDonald’s All American Banquet with a lifetime achievement award.  Gaters created the program at Marshall in 1974 and since that beginning has won 907 games—more than any other coach, boys or girls, in Illinois history.  Gaters captured her eighth state title in 2008 when her Lady Commandos won the Class 3-A title.  At Marshall, Gaters has produced 17 high school All-Americans and three Ms. Illinois Basketball Players of the Year.

Christian Academy of Louisville (Louisville, Kentucky) - They will have 2 senior-to-be D-1 players who have committed to D-1 schools, plus other players who will play D2 or better.  Nita Slaughter has committed to the University of Louisville as a freshman.  Allison Karst has not committed yet, but will make a decision soon. Anna Hart is recruited by Western Kentucky and Murray State University. They finished the 2008-09 season 25-5 and were ranked as high as #2 in state during this past season, beating 6 of the top 10 teams in Kentucky.

Ramsay (Birmingham, AL) – They have the # 1 ranked player in the 2010 class, Kaneisha Horn, 6’1” Power Wing Player, who has been offered scholarships from over 20 different schools, including Rutgers, Duke, Louisville and Florida State.  Coach Robert Mosley has guided the Lady Rams to 4 consecutive 5A Alabama State Championships (2004-2007).  Kaneisha Horn is coming off successful ACL surgery in January 2009 and will probably miss much of the summer season but should be back in top form for the regular high school season.

Miami Norland (Miami, FL) – They capped off the 2008-09 season with a perfect 32-0 season and a Florida 6A championship. They return 5' 11" wing guard/forward Cleondra Roberts and 5'4" point guard Stephanie Coney.

Hialeah (Hialeah, FL) – Finished 13-11 in 2008-09 season.  They return 5’10” Forward Jasmine Wilkins, 2nd team All County and Chandler Merkerson, 6' wing guard/forward.

Our Lady of Lourdes (Miami, FL) – Returns 1^st team All County 5’7” Guard Takia Brooks and 3^rd team All County 5’6” Guard Jackie Perez.  Finished the 2008-09 season 30-2, losing to eventual state champion Norland in the Regional Semi-Finals.  They return to the Junior Orange Bowl Classic where they won three consecutive championships (1996 - 1998).

Gulliver Preparatory (Pinecrest, FL) – Finished the 2008-09 season with a 25-3 record, losing to eventual 3A state champion Parkway Academy in the Regional Semi-Finals.  Returns 1^st team All County Guard Alyssa Baron and 1^st team All County Center Danielle Amaya.

2008 Results

Championship Day Results:

7th Place:  Langley (VA) 43 - Philadelphia Central (PA) 36
5th Place:  Coral Reef (FL) 47 - Miami Senior (FL) 38
3rd Place:  Lake Mary (FL) 46 - North Miami Beach (FL) 45
Championship: Nova (FL) 64 - South Broward (FL) 33

All Tournament Team:

Naomi Fequiere - North Miami Beach
Morgan Jones - Lake Mary
Alicia DeVaughn - South Broward
Krystal Saunders - South Broward
Tonya Aaron - Nova

Most Valuable Player:

Jassany Williams - Nova

2008 Girls Score Updates

2008 Girls Brackets

2008 Girls Schedule

From Florida:

South Broward - Coach Sharlene Ferguson; 18 - 10 in 2007-08 and won the State 6A championship; they are led by 6’5” Junior Center Alicia DeVaughn, first team All State last year as a sophomore.

Coral Reef - Coach Adam Graham; 21 - 6 in 2007-08 and won the District 16-6A championship; they are led by returning Seniors Jasmine Calin (Forward) and Shambrika Tomlin (Guard).

Lake Mary - Coach - Rick Weyers; 26 - 2 in 2007-08 and was a Regional Semi-Finalist in State 6A Playoffs and are led by Morgan Jones, Sophomore, honorable mention All State as a Freshman.

Nova - Coach - Jason Hively; 26 - 4 in 2007-08, losing in a heartbreaker to Baron Collier in the Regional Semi-Finals in State 5A Playoffs; their top player returns as 6’3” Junior center, Jassany Williams, along with 5’10” Senior Forward Dominique Jackson.

North Miami Beach - Coach Selena Volcy; 14 - 5 in 2007-08 and was a runner-up in District 13-6A; Naomie Fequiere returns as their leading scorer, averaging 16 points and 5 steals per game last year.  Joining her is 6’3” Center Veronica Cherizol who averaged 12 rebounds and 9 points per game.

Miami Senior - Coach Jeanette Baumgarten; 10 - 9 in 2007-08 and had a 4^th place finish in 2007 Junior Orange Bowl Classic; leading the Stingarees at Point Guard is Senior 5’7” Aliesh Roman.

From Other States:

Langley High School (McLean, Virginia) - Coach Cheryl Buffo; 14 - 11 in 2007-08; The Lady Saxons are led by Sophomore up and coming star, Audrey Dotson.

Central High School (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) - Coach Frank Greco; 17 - 6 in 2007-08; the Lady Lancers are led by Senior Janaa Pickard; their Public League win streak had reached 101 games before losing one game last season.  This included 6 straight Philadelphia Public League titles.


2007 Girls Basketball Classic

Final Day Results:

Championship game - Bolingbrook (IL) 51 - Paul VI (VA) 21
3rd place game - Nova (FL) 47 - Miami Norland (FL) 29
5th place game - Booker T Washington (TN) 40 - Miami Senior (FL)  31
7th place game - Coral Reef (FL) 47 - Digital Harbor (MD) 43

All Tournament Team:

Vontrice Dennis - Miami Norland
Jassany Williams - Nova
Jasmine Murray - Paul VI
Janisha Geralds - Bolingbrook
Ariele Massengale - Bolingbrook

Most Valuable Player:

Satavia Taylor - Bolingbrook

Game Schedule - 2007 Girls Classic

2007 Girls Preview

2007 Girls Score Updates

Teams interested in the 2009 Classic can email us for information at basketball@jrorangebowl.com.

The basketball committee is looking for more volunteers to help with the Junior Orange Bowl Basketball Classic.  If you are interested, please email us at basketball@jrorangebowl.com or call Chuck Little at (786) 546-3386.

2006 Tournament Recap

2005 Tournament Recap

2004 Tournament Recap