14u Division – A gritty and determined RENS 8th grade team took on a talented 9th grade team from the home team, NY Gauchos. The RENS had a 8 point lead going in to half time, only to see the game forced in to overtime with an impressive 4-point play by RENS 8th graders Cole Anthony with 1.2 seconds left on the clock. Eventually falling in double-overtime, the RENS 8th graders showed why they are the best team in NY at their age group and that they are capable of playing with any HS players in the region.
RENS 8th grade falls in Double OT 10/21/14 - 10:17 PM
14u Division – A gritty and determined RENS 8th grade team took on a talented 9th grade team from the home team, NY Gauchos. The RENS had a 8 point lead going in to half time, only to see the game forced in to overtime with an impressive 4-point play by RENS 8th graders Cole Anthony with 1.2 seconds left on the clock. Eventually falling in double-overtime, the RENS 8th graders showed why they are the best team in NY at their age group and that they are capable of playing with any HS players in the region.
The 14U RENS took their talents to the West Coast, traveling to Las Vegas for the Las Vegas Live Tournament hosted by Big Foot Hoops. It was dramatic to see how the team had matured since the beginning of the season. They were focused and controlled and handled their business like Men. They had little trouble beginning pool play, with decided victories against Washington State's Fusion Elite and APT Sports from California. They had something to prove and they weren’t letting anyone stand in their way, playing RENS basketball with nothing to stop them. They made smart decisions, moved the ball and crashed the glass, defeating their opponents with ease. The team had a slow start in their final pool game against California's Basketball Mechanics. After being down 10 at the half, the RENS got back to business and finished on top, blowing the Cali boys out by 15, earning them the top pool spot and moving them to the Platinum bracket.
In the round of 16, they faced the HDEBA Red and beat them by 23, heading to the Elite 8 and the San Francisco Rebels, a scrappy team that proved to be their toughest competition. Down by 19, it suddenly clicked for the RENS who put on the pressure and turned the game around, going up by five. After trading baskets down to the wire, the RENS lost by one on a heartbreaking last-second buzzer beater. Although it was a tough defeat, it was a great game, and the team showed real resolve. They never quit and that’s what its all about!
Maryland Invitational Tournament June 13-15 / U-14 8th Grade 6/19/14 - 08:19 AM
The Rens participated in the competitive National MIT held in the surrounding areas of Washington D.C. It was well represented by over 85 teams from across the country. The first game was against the PAC 13 Jayhawks. The Rens came ready to play and easily defeated the Jayhawks 59-21. The next game was against the famed King James Shooting Stars. After being down at the half, The Rens put on the defensive pressure and turned the deficit into another victory, 67-55. Going 2-0 in Pool play allowed The Rens to advance to the Gold Bracket against the NC Durham Hurricanes. With the momentum still flowing, The Rens overpowered these kids from NC with their speed and athleticism. This win propelled The Rens into the Elite 8 against DC Premier (Formerly known as DC Assault). It was a hard fought battle with a lot of exciting plays from both teams. In the end, DC Premier pulled out the win but The Rens never gave up. Give them alot of credit for digging deep and staying in the game.
8th Grade Wins P. A. T. Invitational 1/26/14 - 04:15 PM
Congratulations to the RENS 8th grade team on winning the P.A.T Invitational. Great job to Coach Billy and his coaching Staff Coach Pop and Coach Hector. Nayshawn Kane walked away with the tournament MVP. The RENS were 6-0 going into the championship game against the Gauchos. They pulled away on a
13-2 run winning 58-46.
RENS 8th grade team at the Barclays Center 12/24/13 - 10:50 PM
RENS 8th grade team lose to a tough NJ Players Team in Funsport battle of the Hudson championship. Congrats to the players and Coaching Staff on reaching the championship game at the Barclays Center.
Congratulations to The RENs 8th grade team on advancing to Funsports championship 12/19/13 - 11:29 AM
Congratulations to The RENs 8th grade team on advancing to Funsports championship game at the Barclays center on December 23, 2013. This journey to the Barclays was no easy task. In the semi finals they faced a very good Scan Team. The RENS won in overtime 56-52. This victory was accomplished through their dedication and teamwork . This is truly a reflection of their character, integrity and willingness to press forward.
Congratulations to The RENs 8th grade team on advancing to the Funsports championship 12/15/13 - 10:49 PM
Congratulations to The RENs 8th grade team on advancing to the Funsports championship game being held at the Barclays center on December 23, 2013. The journey to the championship was no easy task. In the semi finals The RENS faced a very good Team Scan Team. The RENS won in overtime 56-52. This victory was accomplished through their dedication and teamwork . This is truly a reflection of their character, integrity and willingness to press forward.
RENS 14U Team Wins Summertime Championship at Conrad McRae Tournament 8/26/13 - 10:53 PM
Coach Hector Alomdovar's nationally ranked 14U RENS team dominated a tough Brooklyn Badgers squad 80 - 40 to capture the JHS Championship at the annual Conrad McRae summer tournament, held in Brooklyn today. The RENS finished the season undefeated and have been on a roll since their overall 9th place ranking in July's Orlando AAU Nationals. Electrifying forward Marco Morency won the McRae CHIP's MVP. Slick PG Tyler Bourne was named the tourney's Most Valuable Player, and swingman Jose Alvarado crowned the "defensive player" of the prestigious tournament. Coach Hector said, "All of our kids were terrific! They played hard. They play together, and they are mentally tough." Later in the day, Hector coached the winning side of the TRI-STATE 8th GRADE All Star game at which Milbank's gifted big man, Sid Wilson, MVP, teamed with Morency to the delight of the awe struck fans!
14U Rens Finish 9th in Country at Orlando D1 Nationals 7/20/13 - 09:43 AM
Coach Hector Almodovar and his 14U team with Coaches Derrick Green and Dan Klores
Coach Hector Almodovar's 8th grade Rens quintet won eight of nine games at the AAU Nationals to finish 9th in the nation this week at Disney, where the hugely competitive summer tournament featured the top 120 teams in the nation. The Rens' only loss was to the eventual tourney winner, the California Basketball Club, repeat 2012 winners. The hard-charging Rens handedly defeated teams from Louisiana, Boston, Wisconsin, Florida, Alabama and New York. Together only since September, the team captured seven tournament chips in a row this season, including the prestigious MITs.
Rens 14U Team Dominates 15U Division in New Jersey 4/7/13 - 12:21 PM
The 8th grade Rens captured the chip over the weekend in the 9th grade division at Ramapo College’s Bball Shootout March Madness tournament. Trouncing all three opponents in their now trademark “take no prisoners” style, the Rens defeated the Kingston Komets 77 – 44 in the finals, marking the team’s eighth victory in a row, 30th of 31, and their sixth tournament crown out of seven since December. Assistant coach Derrick Green said, “We have a ton of work to do. The kids work hard and are fearless, but we need to be in the gym a lot more to become “real champions.”
Historic Weekend for Rens Program 4/6/13 - 12:20 PM
March winds blew mighty strong for the Rens youth basketball program this past weekend with three teams winning big-time championships in two metro area tournaments. Coach Dan Klores’ nationally-ranked 14U team beat New Heights in overtime by a score of 61-58 at the Next Challenge Tournament in Ardsley, NY. The team was down 15 late in the first half, but, as usual, didn’t stop competing. The tight-knit group ran through their first four games led by sharpshooting guards Tyler Bourne, Pierce Boczar and Jason Shill. The emergence of 6’3″ Brandon Miller, defensive wizardry of Bryce Council, brilliant baseline play from Joshua Roberts, and piercing drives by newcomer southpaw Eric Monroe stood out. It was the Rens physical front line of Marco Morency, who many believe to be the best 8th grader in the Northeast, and rebounding beasts 6’5″ David Coles and 6’4″ Dwayne Thomas who kept the team in the chip until the squad’s defensive pressure took over.
At the Central Jersey Hawks East Coast March Madness tourney in Neptune, Coach Anne Pinto’s 5th grade handedly beat the HOS Gauchos by 11, before winning the chip by defeating the King Street Kings. Up the entire game by as much as 12, the Kings, with a 6’1″ big man, fell to the quintet 53 – 46. At that same tourney, Coach Steve Harris’ revamped 6th grade 12U team trounced OnPoint by 30 to capture the Gold.
On a side note, Coach Billy Council’s 7th grade 13U team beat Riverside Church’s 8th grade 14U team by one point in overtime at Riverside’s Live City Spring League. That is not a typo. Riverside’s 8th grade team went down to Rens 7th, who were without their starting big man/electric guard tandem.
14 U Rens Rated Number One in East/Mid Atlantic 4/5/13 - 12:20 PM
Coach Dan Klores’ 14U Rens were named the number one team in the East/Mid Atlantic region by Youth1.com, fresh off their thrilling win at the Maryland International Tournament, the team’s fourth consecutive win for the super charged unit. ”Although it’s nice to get some credit,” said Klores, “we have a long, long way to go.” He added, “There are certain things we can’t control, such as losing three of our starters to injury the day before this weekend’s AGame SuperShootout in Philadelphia.”
14U Rens Team Effort Captures Prestigious MIT Championship to Sweep Nation’s Best 2/18/13 - 12:19 PM
A jaw-dropping buzzer-beater win in the championship game of the MIT winter tournament held outside Washington, DC, this weekend delivered the gold to the 8th grade 14U Rens team. Battling hometown powerhouse DC Assault, with four starters fouled out, powerhouse point guard and tourney MVP Tyler Bourne hit a three-pointer from a few feet inside the half court line to give his teammates a 99 – 98 victory. Coach Dan Klores’ five travelled to Maryland to take care of business, and his 11-man roster did just that. On Saturday, they ran over two local teams, celebrating with a team dinner that night. They came out strong on Sunday morning at 8 am, running rugged opponents Nike Baltimore Elite off the court. Big man Dwayne Thomas, super forward Mt. Vernon native Marco Morency and sharpshooter Pierce Boczar stunned the favorites from the mid-Atlantic. In the semifinals, the Rens pounced upon New Jersey’s best, Playaz, the recent winner of Basketball Spotlight’s Clash for the Cup Tournament. Bourne, 6’4″ wing Terrell Turner, who electrified the packed gym with 26 points, motorman swing Jose Alvarado and fierce combo guard Donald “Man Man” Flores were just too difficult to contain. Assistant Coach Hector Almodovar said, “When we get going and feel the disrespect these highly touted teams have for us, we know we have a ton to prove and we just do it.”
In the championship game, faced with a hostile hometown crowd, it was the Rens’ bench who was left to come through — and they did. Big Mikey Mota who had an excellent tournament grabbed a number of bounds and blocked two big shots. Undersized forward Joshua Roberts made two huge baskets, subbing for his bigger teammates all plagued by foul trouble. Bryce Council didn’t merely harass the DC Assault primetime guards into making turnovers, but he also hit two critically clutch free throws down the stretch. Two guard Jason Schill whose radar outside shots flew in all weekend came up big during the last five minutes.
The Rens were excited to have veteran Assistant Coach Derrick Green back with them as well as former St. John’s captain Andre Stanley, two wonderful basketball minds and teachers. Klores said, “This is our fourth straight tournament championship. These kids like one another and they listen, but what they showed us in Maryland is that when faced with adversity, they are mentally tough — very, very tough.” He added, “Tyler will probably never forget that shot for the rest of his life. He has heart. The whole group of them has heart.”
The 8th grade Rens captured the chip over the weekend in the 9th grade division at Ramapo College’s Bball Shootout March Madness tournament. Trouncing all three opponents in their now trademark “take no prisoners” style, the Rens defeated the Kingston Komets 77 – 44 in the finals, marking the team’s eighth victory in a row, 30th of 31, and their sixth tournament crown out of seven since December. Assistant coach Derrick Green said, “We have a ton of work to do. The kids work hard and are fearless, but we need to be in the gym a lot more to become “real champions.”
