Elizabeth Schnell knew her team had the chemistry and the determination to make a run at the spring league championship in the Girls Intermediate Division of the Coral Springs Basketball Club.
Despite finishing regular-season play in third place, she and her Maroone 8 teammates felt they had a shot against the top-seeded Pink Ballers in the recent title showdown at the Coral Springs Gymnasium. Maroone 8 wrapped up play with an 8-4 record, while the Pink Ballers wound up 10-2.
Schnell, a recent graduate of St. Andrew Catholic School in Coral Springs, provided the leadership with a game-high 20 points as Maroone 8 achieved a thrilling 25-23 victory over the Pink Ballers for the crown.
“Even though it is competitive, you still make friends,” said the 14-year-old Schnell, who has played in the league for three seasons. “You are nervous before the game but once you are out there you don’t hear the crowd. It is all about how you play and how bad you want it.”
Ermani Lewis came through with 15 points for Pink Ballers, who trailed 22-14 with about three-and-a-half minutes remaining before erupting for seven points off three steals to pull her team within a basket. The squad had a chance to tie with scoring opportunities in the closing seconds, but Schnell shut the door with a key rebound as the clock ran out.
Pink Ballers coach Kisha Scott has coached in the league for three seasons and this was her first year as a head coach.
“The girls made it well worth it,” Scott said. “They are strong and never give up, and they played hard to the last second. I always tell them I am proud of them, win or lose, as long as they give 100 percent.”
The Coral Springs Basketball Club is now preparing for its summer season that begins on Monday, June 25. That hoops campaign will continue through the middle of August.
Highlights from the other division finals are:
Trainee 4: Green Machine 16, Orange Dominators 11. Preston Menocal (Green Machine) 10 points; Schyler Davis (Orange Dominators) 6 points.
High School Boys: Gold Stars 55, Red Fire 41. Mark Higueros (Gold Stars) 15 points; Jevaughn Morris (Red Fire) 11 points.
Intermediate Boys: Purple Eagles 40, Orange Crush 31. Javier Villa (Purple Eagles) 23 points; Anthony Fehy (Orange Crush) 21 points.
Junior Varsity: Black Knights 34, Purple Kings 32. Keith Zlocktower (Black Knights) 20 points; John Costa (Purple Kings) 8 points.
