Rage Red goes 2-2 in Sidney; just misses 3-1 after losing heartbreaker, 52-51, at the buzzer

(Top) Members of the Rage Red AAU team watch action before one of their games on Sunday, March 28, in Sidney. (Above) The Rage Red AAU team - (back row, left to right) Kyeem Holmes, Trevor Borchardt, Owen Klepfer, Wyatt Whitmore (who is usually not crossing his eyes), and Deondre Bosket; (front row, left to right) Brady Harrington, Alec Grassi, Michael Rigo, Garrett Alapeck and Roberto Jensen - not pictured were Nicholas Ehrensbeck and Stephen Wilson. (Click photos to enlarge)

The Rage Red AAU team played four games in the Sidney April Fool’s Tournament this past weekend (March 27-28), with some solid results. The team went 2-2, and was a fraction of an inch and two seconds away from going 3-1, as the team lost a game by one point on a 3-pointer just before the buzzer.

The team’s fourth game, against a squad with 13-year-old players that had completely destroyed the rest of the division’s competition throughout the weekend, was close in the first half, as the team trailed by just 7 points at halftime, ending the tournament on yet another positive.

On Saturday (March 27), Rage Red beat Walton 55-36 as Kyeem Holmes turned in a double-double (14 points, 13 rebounds). Wyatt Whitmore had 9 points, 12 rebounds and 6 steals, while Trevor Borchardt also had a strong outing with 9 points/8 rebounds. Stephen Wilson collected 10 boards, Roberto Jensen contributed 7 assists, Garrett Alapeck had 4 assists, and Alec Grassi added 6 points.

In the team’s first of three games Sunday (March 28), the team led The Flyers (Endwell) by 12 at the half and by as many as 16 points early in the second half, but hot Flyers shooting made it close at the end. The Flyers were able to win this one 52-51 with a 3-pointer with just 2 seconds remaining. Rage Red went just 17-for-37 from the foul line in this game. Deondre Bosket led Rage with 13 points, as Kyeem Holmes scored 10, but struggled with foul trouble throughout. Holmes fouled out with 1:22 left to play. Trevor Borchardt had a team-high 15 rebounds, while Wyatt Whitmore scored 8 points and collected 9 boards. Brady Harrington also scored 8 points, with Alec Grassi scoring 7 points for Rage.

Rage then played a team from the Utica area and came away with a 59-39 win over The Playaz. Rage led 30-17 at halftime, then had a 7-0 run late in the second half to wrap up the win. Kyeem Holmes had another double-double (12 points, 11 boards), adding 4 steals and 4 blocked shots. Wyatt Whitmore scored 10 points, adding 8 rebounds. Deondre Bosket and Roberto Jensen (three 3-pointers) each scored 9 points for Rage. Bosket had 7 rebounds, and Jensen contributed 5 assists.

In the final game, a team from Sherburne/Earlville/Hamilton led Rage just 24-21 late in the first half. Before their game against Rage Red late on Sunday, this team, called The Wolfpack, had not seen an opponent stay within 20 points at the half. By intermission, Rage trailed just 29-22, displaying a very gutsy first half against a team much, much larger. The Wolfpack’s size and age advantage was too much to stay close down the stretch, though, as the final score was 68-40.

Kyeem Holmes led Rage Red against the Wolfpack with 12 points. Brady Harrington (one 3-pointer) and Alec Grassi each scored 7 points, while Roberto Jensen (one 3-pointer) added 6. Trevor Borchardt led Rage with 9 rebounds.

Game 1
Rage 55, Walton 36

Statistics:
* Kyeem Holmes – 14 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 blocks (4-5 FT)
* Wyatt Whitmore – 9 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 6 steals, 1 block
* Trevor Borchardt – 9 points, 8 rebounds 2 blocks (1-6 FT)
* Alec Grassi – 6 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals (2-4 FT)
* Deondre Bosket – 4 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals (0-2 FT)
* Nicholas Ehrensbeck – 4 points, 1 assist
* Stephen Wilson – 2 points, 10 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block
* Garrett Alapeck – 2 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal
* Owen Klepfer – 2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal (0-1 FT)
* Brady Harrington – 2 points, 2 rebounds
* Michael Rigo – 1 point, 1 assist, 2 steals (1-2 FT)
* Roberto Jensen – 1 rebound, 7 assists
* Team free throws – 11-for-29
* Walton free throws – 2-for-5

Game 2
Flyers 52, Rage 51

Statistics:
* Deondre Bosket – 13 points, 1 rebound, 3 steals (3-7 FT)
* Kyeem Holmes – 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 6 steals, 1 block (6-8 FT)
* Wyatt Whitmore – 8 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals (2-4 FT)
* Brady Harrington – 8 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block (4-8 FT)
* Alec Grassi – 7 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal (1-4 FT)
* Trevor Borchardt – 4 points, 15 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 blocks (0-2 FT)
* Nicholas Ehrensbeck – 1 point (1-2 FT)
* Roberto Jensen – 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal (0-2 FT)
* Team free throws – 17-for-37
* Flyers free throws – 8-for-25

Game 3
Rage 59, Playaz 39

Statistics:
* Kyeem Holmes – 12 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 steals, 4 blocks (4-8 FT)
* Wyatt Whitmore – 10 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
* Deondre Bosket – 9 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals (1-3 FT)
* Roberto Jensen – 9 points, 5 assists (three 3-pointers)
* Trevor Borchardt – 4 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal (0-2 FT)
* Nicholas Ehrensbeck – 4 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal (0-3 FT)
* Brady Harrington – 3 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block (1-2 FT)
* Garrett Alapeck – 3 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist (one 3-pointer)
* Alec Grassi – 3 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal (1-2 FT)
* Michael Rigo – 2 points, 4 rebounds (0-3 FT)
* Owen Klepfer – 5 rebounds, 1 assist (0-2 FT)
* Stephen Wilson – 3 rebounds
* Team free throws – 7-for-25
* Playas free throws – 9-for-27

Game 4
Wolfpack 68, Rage 40

Statistics:
* Kyeem Holmes – 12 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 blocks (0-2 FT)
* Brady Harrington – 7 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal (one 3-pointer) (2-2 FT)
* Alec Grassi – 7 points, 1 rebound (1-2 FT)
* Roberto Jensen – 6 points, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block (one 3-pointer) (3-4 FT)
* Trevor Borchardt – 3 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block (1-8 FT)
* Michael Rigo – 2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal
* Owen Klepfer – 2 points, 1 rebound
* Deondre Bosket – 1 point, 1 rebound (1-2 FT)
* Wyatt Whitmore – 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block
* Garrett Alapeck – 2 rebounds, 1 assist
* Nicholas Ehrensbeck – 1 rebound
* Team free throws – 8-for-20
* Wolfpack free throws – 9-for-18

Sidney Tournament Statistics - by category

POINTS

48 – Holmes
27 – Bosket
27 – Whitmore
23 - Grassi

20 – Harrington
20 – Borchardt
15 – Jensen

9 - Ehrensbeck
5 - Alapeck

5 - Rigo

4 - Klepfer

2 – Wilson

REBOUNDING

38 - Borchardt
33 - Whitmore

32 - Holmes

13 – Bosket
13 - Wilson

10 - Harrington

8 - Klepfer

7 - Grassi

7 – Alapeck
6 - Rigo
3 – Jensen
3 – Ehrensbeck

ASSISTS

18 – Jensen
6 – Alapeck
5 – Whitmore
4 - Holmes

4 – Harrington
2 – Grassi
2 - Klepfer
1 – Bosket
1 – Ehrensbeck
1 – Rigo

STEALS

15 – Holmes
10 - Whitmore
7 - Bosket

5 - Grassi

4 - Harrington

4 – Borchardt
3 - Rigo

2 - Jensen

1 – Klepfer
1 – Alapeck
1 – Ehrensbeck
1 - Wilson

BLOCKED SHOTS

10 – Holmes
5 – Borchardt
2 - Harrington

2 - Whitmore

1 - Wilson

1 – Jensen

FREE THROW PERCENTAGE

61 - Holmes (14-23)
58 - Harrington (7-12)
50 - Jensen (3-6)
50 - Whitmore (2-4)
42 - Grassi (5-12)
36 - Bosket (5-14)
20 - Ehrensbeck (1-5)
20 - Rigo (1-5)
11 - Borchardt (2-18)

0 - Klepfer (0-3)

Team free throw percentage - 38% (43-111)

Opponent free throw percentage - 37% (28-75)

Season Statistics (after two tournaments - by category)

POINTS

66 - Holmes
48 - Bosket

36 – Harrington
34 - Whitmore

31 – Grassi
25 – Borchardt
15 – Jensen
13 - Ehrensbeck

11 - Alapeck

7 – Klepfer
5 - Rigo

4 – Wilson

REBOUNDING

60 - Borchardt
57 - Whitmore

55 - Holmes

22 – Bosket
20 - Wilson

17 - Harrington

15 - Klepfer

11 – Grassi
8 – Alapeck

6 - Jensen
6 – Rigo
3 - Ehrensbeck

ASSISTS

28 - Jensen

11 - Holmes

10 – Harrington
6 – Whitmore
6 – Alapeck
4 - Bosket

3 - Grassi

2 – Klepfer
1 – Ehrensbeck
1 - Rigo

STEALS

21 - Holmes
15 - Bosket

11 – Grassi
10 – Whitmore

9 - Harrington

6 - Borchardt

4 – Jensen
3 – Rigo
2 – Klepfer
1 – Alapeck
1 – Ehrensbeck
1 - Wilson

BLOCKED SHOTS

19 - Holmes

6 – Whitmore
6 - Borchardt

4 – Bosket
3 - Harrington

3 – Wilson
2 - Jensen

1 - Klepfer

THREE-POINT FIELD GOALS MADE

4 - Roberto Jensen

3 - Deondre Bosket

3 - Brady Harrington

1 - Garrett Alapeck

FREE THROW PERCENTAGE

64.7 - Holmes (22-34)

56.3 - Harrington (9-16)
46.7 - Grassi (7-15)
43.8 - Bosket (7-16)
42.9 - Whitmore (3-7)
37.5 - Jensen (3-8)

20 - Klepfer (1-5)
20 – Ehrensbeck (1-5)
20 – Rigo (1-5)
13.6 - Borchardt (3-22)

0 - Wilson (0-2)

Team (season) free throw percentage - 42% (60-143)

Opponent (season) free throw percentage - 47% (52-111)

Rage Red comes back from 9 points down, picks up first win at Cortland Shootout

Rage Red teammates (left to right) Trevor Borchardt, Brady Harrington, Roberto Jensen and Kyeem Holmes had lunch at Pontillo's Pizzeria Saturday (March 20), sharing a plate of about a billion chicken wings.

The 12U Rage Red AAU team went 1-2 at the Cortland Shootout last weekend, playing its first tournament together at this level of play. Rage Red started the weekend with a 54-32 loss at the hands of the Upstate Boys, the team that eventually won the division and progressed on to the tournament 12U playoffs.

Rage Red then played a team called Eastern YMCA, coming away with an exciting 30-28, come-from-behind victory. Rage Red trailed by as many as 9 points in the second half before a tenacious defense kicked into gear, and Deondre Bosket and Brady Harrington found their range from beyond the 3-point line. Bosket hit three 3-pointers in the game, with Harrington adding one. Rage Red also outscored Eastern YMCA 23-11 down the stretch, holding the opponent to just 9 points after intermission.

On Sunday, Rage Red ran into a very strong Binghamton-area team, the TC Rockets. Midway through the first half, the Rockets had built a 20-0 lead, but Rage Red eventually righted things. The rest of the way, the Rockets outscored Rage Red just 32-26, and during one stretch that covered the end of the first half and a portion of the second half, Rage Red actually outscored the Rockets, 22-20. TC won this one, 52-26.

This week: Rage Red will compete in its second AAU tournament in Sidney next weekend. This week's practices are 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday at Calvin Coolidge Elementary.

Cortland Shootout (March 20-21)

Game 1 (Saturday, March 20)
Upstate Boys 54, Rage Red 32
(Halftime: Upstate Boys led 28-17)

Stats:
* Kyeem Holmes - 6 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 3 blocks (2-2 FT)
* Brady Harrington - 6 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
* Trevor Borchardt - 5 points, 10 rebounds, 1 steal (1-2 FT)
* Alec Grassi - 4 points, 1 rebound, 2 steals
* Garrett Alapeck - 2 points, 1 rebound
* Wyatt Whitmore - 2 points, 11 rebounds, 3 blocks
* Stephen Wilson - 2 points, 4 rebounds
* Deondre Bosket - 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 3 steals, 1 block (2-2 FT)
* Owen Klepfer - 1 point, 5 rebounds, 1 block (1-2 FT)
* Roberto Jensen - 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
* Team free throws - 6-8
* Upstate Boys free throws - 9-18

Game 2 (Saturday, March 20)
Rage Red 30, Eastern YMCA 28
(Halftime: Eastern YMCA led 17-12)

Stats:
* Deondre Bosket - 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks (two 3-pointers)

* Brady Harrington - 8 points, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block (two 3-pointer) (2-2 FT)
* Kyeem Holmes - 7 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals, 3 blocks (5-7 FT)
* Wyatt Whitmore - 3 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block (1-2 FT)
* Garrett Alapeck - 2 points
* Trevor Borchardt - 8 rebounds, 1 steal
* Alec Grassi - 3 rebounds, 1 steal
* Owen Klepfer - 2 rebounds
* Roberto Jensen - 3 assists
* Stephen Wilson - 1 rebound, 1 block (0-2 FT)
* Team free throws - 8-13
* Eastern YMCA free throws - 1-6

Game 3 (Sunday, March 21)
TC Rockets 52, Rage Red 26
(Halftime: TC Rockets led 32-14)

Stats:
* Deondre Bosket - 7 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 block (one 3-pointer)
* Kyeem Holmes - 5 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 3 blocks (1-2 FT)
* Alec Grassi - 4 points, 1 assist, 3 steals (2-3 FT)
* Nicholas Ehrensbeck - 4 points, (2-2 FT)
* Brady Harrington - 2 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals (0-2 FT)
* Wyatt Whitmore - 2 points, 3 rebounds
* Owen Klepfer - 2 points, 1 steal
* Trevor Borchardt - 4 rebounds, 1 block (0-2 FT)
* Stephen Wilson - 2 rebounds, 1 block
* Roberto Jensen - 1 rebound, 4 assists, 1 steal (0-2 FT)
* Team free throws - 5-11
* TC Rockets free throws - 5-12

Cortland Shootout statistics (by category)

POINTS
19 - Bosket
18 - Holmes
16 - Harrington
8 - Grassi
7 - Whitmore
6 - Alapeck
5 - Borchardt
4 - Ehrensbeck
3 - Klepfer
2 - Wilson

REBOUNDING
24 - Whitmore
23 - Holmes
22 - Borchardt
9 - Bosket
7 - Harrington
7 - Wilson
7 - Klepfer
4 - Grassi
3 - Jensen
1 - Alapeck

ASSISTS
10 - Jensen
7 - Holmes
6 - Harrington
3 - Bosket
1 - Grassi
1 - Whitmore

STEALS
8 - Bosket
6 - Holmes
6 - Grassi
5 - Harrington
2 - Borchardt
2 - Jensen
1 - Klepfer

BLOCKED SHOTS
9 - Holmes
4 - Whitmore
4 - Bosket
2 - Wilson
1 - Klepfer
1 - Jensen
1 - Borchardt
1 - Harrington

FREE THROW PERCENTAGE
100 - Bosket (2-2)
73 - Holmes (8-11)
67 - Grassi (2-3)
50 - Harrington (2-4)
50 - Klepfer (1-2)
50 - Whitmore (1-2)
25 - Borchardt (1-4)
0 - Jensen (0-2)
0 - Wilson (0-2)

Team free throw percentage - 53% (17-32)
Opponent free throw percentage - 42% (15-36)

Last weekend

On Sunday, March 13, a team representing Binghamton won the 3rd/4th grade Leprechaun Basketball Tournament. In Saturday's championship game, Binghamton trailed Athens by 8 points with three minutes left to play, but eventually won the game by 6.

We only have statistics/scores for the team's first game that weekend (Friday, March 12), another win over Athens.

Binghamton 43, Athens 31
Statistics:
* Leo Gallagher - 16 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 1 block (2-2 on free throws)
* Brandon Sprouse - 9 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal (1-1 on free throws)
* Peter Hartrick - 8 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block (2-4 on free throws)
* Gabriel Whiteman - 4 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals, 2 blocks
* Mason Vaughn - 3 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal (1-2 on free throws)
* Patrick VanPutte - 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal
* Tyshawn High - 1 point, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 block (1-2 on free throws)
* Hanna Strawn - 1 rebound, 3 assists, 1 steal
* Niko Murray - 1 rebound
* Team free throws - 7-for-11
* Athens free throws - 4-for-11

6th-Graders Finish Second in Cortland
Last weekend (March 13-14) we took a group of area 6th-grade players to a tournament in Cortland. The weekend started slowly, with the team losing both its Saturday games. But a win Sunday morning, through an odd tie-breaker, qualified the team to be in a 4-team playoff.

The team won its first playoff, getting into the championship game against a Syracuse-area team called Pastime. It was a tight game with opportunities toi win, but Pastime got the win, 42-35. Here are scores and highlights/leaders from the tourney:

Saturday, Game 1
Fayetteville-Manlius 34, Binghamton 28
*Mike Kosty (Vestal) - 9 points, 13 rebounds, 1 block (5-9 FT)
*Kyeem Holmes (Binghamton) - 6 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks (0-2 FT)
*Nate Gaster (Binghamton) - 6 points, 2 rebounds, 5 blocks (2-4 FT)

Saturday, Game 2
Pastime 51, Binghamton 23
* Mike Kosty (Vestal) - 11 points, 7 rebounds (5-11 FT)
* Andre Hawkins (Binghamton) - 8 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal (1-4 FT)
* Nate Gaster (Binghamton) - 9 rebounds (0-6 FT)

Sunday, Game 1
Binghamton 46, 'Cuse Boys 40 (no stats available)

Sunday, Game 2 (Semifinal)
Binghamton 50, Ballers (Cortland) 32
* Mike Kosty (Vestal) - 14 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block (6-9 FT)
* Kyeem Holmes (Binghamton) - 11 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 1 block (1-3 FT)
* Andre Hawkins (Binghamton) - 9 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 1 block (3-3 FT)
* Nate Gaster (Binghamton) - 9 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist (1-4 FT)

Sunday, Game 3 (Championship)
Pastime 42, Binghamton 35
* Mike Kosty (Vestal) - 13 points, 8 rebounds, 1 block (7-11 FT)
* Andre Hawkins (Binghamton) - 9 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks (4-8 FT)
* Kyeem Holmes (Binghamton) - 5 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal (1-2 FT)

Two Second-Place Free-Throw Finishes
On Sunday (March 14), Milton Jimenez and Roberto Jensen competed in the next round of the statewide Knights of Columbus Free Throw Competition. Jimenez competed in the 12-year-old division, while Jensen competed in the 11-year-old division.

Both Binghamton student/athletes finished second in their categories. Jimenez made 16-of-25, while the winning shot total for the 12-year-olds was 18. Jensen went 15-for-25, while the first-place shooter made 23-of-25 shots.