I had the privilege of creating my shots from the sidelines of the 2013 Rose Classic's Senior Day. This is the culmination of New York City's premier women's youth basketball league, featuring the championships for all age groups and the highly anticipated all-star game.
Splitting defense is one thing, doing so in mid-air is a display of graceful athleticism that is rare.
With some serious hardware, Nike gear, and the crown to the top tournament in the Mecca of basketball on the line, the games were full of emotion and high-level basketball. Bodies were flying for every loose ball. Coaches brought a little extra intensity. DJ KP and announcer Joe Pope added to the ambiance with their flair and wit. It was a wonderful event to be a part of, even in my role as a fly on the wall, quietly shooting from the sidelines.
How sweet it is to go home with some hardware for your efforts.
The Rose Classic All-Tournament team was announced.
Off the court, one of the most impressive things about the event was the crowd. In my experience, women's sports have not quite garnered the attention they deserved. I remember games at my alma mater, Colgate University, being sorely empty for some women's teams. That was not the case at the Rose Classic. Every seat was filled from the time I arrived to the very end of the final game and the following awards ceremony. It was truly a classy event in every way.
Top players make sacrifices for their teams.
To give you an idea of the talent level that was on the court at the Rose Classic some of these players have already committed to Stanford, Maryland, and the like. It was a real treat to witness all that talent under the same roof and to get a glimpse of the future of women's basketball.
Commissioner Anton Marchand has been coordinating and orchestrating elite basketball tournaments in New York City for years.
Commissioner Anton Marchand and his team are experts at executing such events. He is also the commissioner of the premier boys summer basketball league in New York City, the Conrad McRae Youth League, and has many years of experience.
Exodus won the championship in the senior division and walked away with finals and season Most Valuable Player awards.
I absolutely love shooting events like this. Everything about the game is pure at this level and, sometimes, these players do not get the credit and attention they deserve. If I can help to preserve a memory or even a historic moment for these players, coaches, and their families, then I'm happy. If I'm able to do it in an interesting way that causes you to pause and spend a little more time with a given image, then I've done my job. I'm looking forward to more similar opportunities with basketball season upon us at the high school, college, and pro levels.
