Monday, September 26, 2005

Deja Vu~ Celtics Rebound for another TITLE!

The Supreme Court Soldiers showed off their athleticism and sizzling shooting to dismantle the Celtics in Round Robin pool play at the Hardwood Tournament yesterday at the ORU aerobic center. However, the Celtics had already staked their claim into the Championship game, and were given a rematch with the flying high Soldiers.

In the first game, the Soldiers held a 29 point lead, but some strong effort and NO QUIT attitude by the Celtics cut the final score down to just a 19 point deficit. With five hours to regroup, the Celtics had some choices to make.

Assistant Coach Art McIlroy was kind enough to share some memories from the Tournament:

FALL FESTIVAL REPORT by Art McIlroy

The Tulsa Celtics clawed their way to another Hardwood championship over the Sept. 24th – 25th weekend. The games had many exciting moments and they again showcased the amazing “Celtic teamwork” that many in the basketball community have come to recognize and appreciate.

Our first game was versus the Jr. Athletes in Action. They were a talented group of players. Corey Shannon gave the Celtics an early lead with some quick opening buckets but Athletes in Action battled back as the lead went back and forth. The second half was vintage Celtic play as Matt Reynolds, Brock Morton and Jarred Wise continued to add offensive firepower. Matt Maguire played his usual steller defense. Alan Santos led the fast break and was all over the court and Sean McIlroy’s rebounding was a consistent plus for the team (Chris Caresio could not make it to this opener). Even with this, the Athletes closed within three before Corey was asked to put on another “Shannon” defensive performance. The Box and one scheme the Celtics employed successfully protected our lead and the Celtics burst midway through the second half took away any hopes the Athletes had in getting back into the game. The Celtics won by 18 points.

The Saturday afternoon contest was against the Beggs Demons. The Demons were a young but scrappy team that was a last minute entry into the tournament. They battled valiantly. Chris Caresio joined his Celtic teammates for this one and helped contribute to an effort that led to a double digit lead in the opening minutes of the game. The Celtics never looked back and cruised to a 40 point victory over the outmatched Demons.

Sunday Showdown-- ORU was the setting for this anticipated match up between the Celtics and the Supreme Court Soldiers. The Soldiers, a talented and very athletic group of players were determined to teach a Sunday school lesson to the Celtics and they did. Numerous fast break opportunities, started by dominating rebounding put the Celtics in an early hole. That hole became 29 points deep. The Celtics put forth a mild comeback of sorts but could never cut it much closer than nineteen after that. The referees allowed play to become physical and it became obvious that if the Celtics wanted another Harwood Championship they were going to have to rise to the challenge and play with strength and intensity not seen in the Sunday morning clash.

The Championship… The Celtics came to the 4:00 PM contest with a quiet determination. It was decided before hand that Brock Morton would have a key responsibility in our zone adjustment. Brock was to be at the free throw line of our zone defense. He was responsible for the Soldiers’ top of the key shooters and yet also had to drop down to help out on the post. Matt Reynolds, Matt Maguire and Alan Santos were responsible for the Soldier’s wing shooters and finally, the corner shots had to be challenged by our down men. That would include Jared Wise, Corey Shannon, Chris Caresio and Sean McIlroy. The biggest responsibility of these four however, was to secure rebounds so that the Soldiers would not get the second chances to score as they did in the morning contest. The Celtics were focused from the pre game pep talk to the final buzzer.

The first half saw lead changes back and forth between each team. As the final minutes of the period drew down, the Soldiers seem to be building momentum. Perhaps a subtle change of momentum came in the closing 1:25 of the half. The Celtics were called into their 40 press. The front line of Alan Santos, Matt Maguire and Matt Reynolds immediately forced a Soldier turnover that led to a Reynolds basket. The Soldiers next possession also resulted into a turnover. As the two teams walked off for intermission, the score read
Celtics 21, Soldiers 19. The second half was a battle equal to the first. Brock Morton and Matt Reynolds hit big three pointers. Jared Wise continued to frustrate the Soldiers with his unstoppable inside moves. Chris Caresio amazed all with his acrobatic drives. Unfortunately, a twisted ankle was the only thing that could stop Chris on this day. Rebounding and defense were the real keys to victory however and Corey Shannon, Sean McIlroy, Alan Santos and Matt Maguire just kept doing what they had been doing all season long.

Execution and toughness in the second half enabled the Celtics to capture a hard fought 43-41 victory. As we look back on this Fall Festival Championship, the boys should have a great feeling of pride. Everyone contributed in this tournament. The championship plaque was presented to the Celtics. Someone was heard to say “the Soldiers might have had the better athletes but the Celtics had the better TEAM." How true it is! The Celtics are not only a very talented group of basketball players, but they possess the intangible letters that spell W-I-N-N-E-R!

Sunday, September 04, 2005

CELTICS REIGN SUPREME IN CHAMPIONSHIP TILT

The Tulsa Celtics squared off against the Supreme Court Soldiers in a rematch of an earlier tournament game which the Soldiers won 46-41. This time the Championship was on the line and it looked like another Soldier victory as the athletic Supreme Court unit struck early and often to erect a 12 point lead in the first half.

The Celtics were cold from outside, and were getting beat on the defensive boards by the Soldiers. The 5 Celtics in the game when we went into the forty full court press were Santos, Shannon, Reynolds, Pinkerton and McIlroy. They pressured the Soldiers into three straight turnovers and converted to cut the 20-11 lead to 20-17. A slick, spinning power move by Hall of the Soldiers made it 22-17 at the half, but we had the momentum.

The second half was CELTIC basketball deluxe. Crisp, unselfish passing created open shots; Matt Reynoldswrap (Bishop Kelley HS), Brock-coli Morton(Holland Hall HS), SeanJohnMcIlroy (Kelley HS), ChrisCrossCaresio (Kansas HS), PriceisrightPinkerton(Cascia Hall HS) & AlanVonSantos(Holland Hall HS) all played their roles and defended intensely. We blocked out a lot better than we had the first half. Jaredthe Wiseman (Union HS) was in basketball mode and dominated the inside and provided the STRENGTH we desperately needed against the leaping Soldiers. That covers seven of the Celtics.

The eighth Celtic, Corey Shannon(Broken Arrow HS), provided the necessary ingredient to spark us DEFENSIVELY. We went to a BOX and ONE on the Soldier who had been killing us offensively. The first two possessions we were in the box and one, the soldier worked hard (but unsuccessfully!) to get open; he did NOT receive the ball. After that, he kind of gave up on working hard; Corey basically knocked out their scoring punch. In fact, I don't believe he touched the ball the remainder of the game. The box did their job, with Brock and Matt out front defending hard AND smart. The backend, Jared, Sean & Chris, snatched most of the rebounds on the first Soldier miss.

Defense is what won this tournament for us. Shannon, Morton and McIlroy drew multiple charging calls. Caresio improved his blocking out and was powerful in the paint offensively. Reynolds played his usual stellar game of running the offense, tenacious defense & knocking down big shots. McIlroy and Morton played large inside and produced timely points. Santos had some spectacular plays. Pinkerton provided needed lift on offense with his quick, twisting power drives and also executed well on the 40 press. Wise progressively played better throughout the tourney, culminating with a dominating Shaquille like performance in the Championship game.

All eight of the Celtics gave great effort on defense and showed improvement on our man-to-man "team" defense, providing great help when necessary.

Coach Art & I so look forward to watching all the former Celtics as they continue their success playing for their High School teams. As Corey Shannon reminded me this weekend, with words he has heard for many years:

"The harder you are on yourself; the easier LIFE is...on you!"

It was a classic and well deserved CELTIC TEAM victory, 41-29, and another hard earned championship added to the CELTIC resume.

Congrats to the CELTICS@

Tulsa Celtics Smothering DEFENSE propels them into FINALS!!

Tulsa Celtics
Tied at 21 at halftime, we addressed the tournament situation. With the possibility of a THREE WAY TIE, we needed to win by at LEAST four points to insure a spot in the Championship game.

I told the team that we needed to win by 10.

Our early 11-4 lead dissipated when Coach began substitution. Players weren't thinking; weren't in basketball mentality. Two men were playing man to man, and 3 Celtics were in zone. I think we all needed another cup of coffee before this morning tipoff. Dominique of the Junior Athletes in Action finished 3 uncontested point blank shots. Lackadaisical turnovers aided the Junior Athletes and we fell behind. Two late shots helped us tie the game at halftime, 21-21.

McIlroy, Santos, Reynolds, Morton and Shannon started the 2nd half. Brock knocked down two straight three's before finding Matt Reynolds at the top of the key for another 3 and we opened up a 34-21 as our defensive intensity was peaked. We gave them only one shot and helped out on the very quick Athletes. It was quite a defensive display!

We won by nine points and are in the championship tonight.

Tulsa Celtics FALL SHORT to Supreme Court Soldiers

Tulsa Celtics
The Celtics battled from behind to pull within 41-40 with late in the 2nd half but succumbed to the quick and exposive Supreme Court Soldiers.

Taking off their pads and suiting up in shorts, football players Jared Wise (Tulsa Union) and Price Pinkerton (Cascia Hall) joined the six players who held off Jenks. We didn't play a typical Celtic game and gave up way to many fast break baskets against the athletic Soldiers.

Hopefully, we will do what is necessary and get back to the Championship game.

Tulsa Celtics Escape Jenks Trojans

Tulsa Celtics
The Celtics held off a late surge by Jenks in the 1rst game of the Round robin tournament. Caresio, Reynolds, Morton, Santos, Shannon, Wise, McIlroy played superb during stretches of the game but had to withstand a last second shot to prevail.

Celtics are back in action!!!

Celtics in HARDWOOD LABOR DAY HOOP Tourney