Seminole Sweep at NAYO

By Kenny Bayon

HOLLYWOOD — The year 2006 will long be remembered as the year of the sweep. For the first time in Native American Youth Organization (NAYO) history, the Seminole Tribe swept the boys and girls basketball titles in the same year.

The NAYO sponsors two major tournaments, basketball and softball. There are several tribes participating in these games. Tribes such as Seneca, Choctaw, Cherokee, Poarch Creek, and Seminoles were among the participants. When it came to the girls’ 11 basketball teams faced off. As for the boys, 15 teams were involved.

It was the first time that the girls had ever won this prestigious tournament and only the third time the boys won. The boys’ last win was in the mid 1980s. The tournament was played throughout Hollywood with the championships being held at the Hollywood Seminole Gym. The tournament was played on April 13–15.

The girls went undefeated throughout the tournament. The Lady Seminoles’ members were: Krystle Young, Meaghan Osceola, Ariah Osceola, Chelsea Mountain, Brianna Harjochee, Whitney Osceola, Audrey Osceola, Lorri Osceola, Kendra Osceola, Katie Tiger along with coach Tony Heard.

The boy’s team, Hollywood Seminoles, consisted of: Jerome Davis, Kelsey Spencer, Jordan Jones, Troy Billie, Ryan Osceola, Bret Spencer, Robert Osceola, Joseph Osceola, Greg Carter, Deforest Carter, Jasper Tommie along with coaches Carlos Adamson, Eddie Redd and Tim Thomas.

The boy’s road to championship: Game 1 vs. Carthridge Boys

The Hollywood Seminole boys were off to a hot start. Greg Carter began the game with seven first period points as well as baskets by Jerome Davis and Deforest Cater to take a 17-7 first period lead. The second period was dominated by the Seminole defense. Every player from the Hollywood Seminole’s made it difficult for opposing teams to score points.

Jerome Davis led the second period surge as he made his presence felt by driving the ball to the basket. He scored on lay-ups and slam-dunks that seemed to take the steam out of the opponent. One of the dunks was so fierce that it had the entire gym on their feet. The dunk was off of an offensive rebound over a Carthridge player. Jerome made a no look pass to Troy Billie to end the half with a 30-17 lead.

Robert Osceola started the third quarter with a three pointer, which was followed by a Kelsey lay-up and two Jerome lay-ups. This extended the lead to 18 to end the third. Greg began the forth with a three but it was the hustle by Joseph Osceola that highlighted the period.

Joseph missed a lay-up but did not give up on the play and stole the ball from the opposite team. He then quickly passed the ball to Greg outside the three point line and fired a pass to Jasper Tommie for a lay-up. The Seminoles finished with a convincing 50-34 victory.

Game 2 vs. Lights out, a team from Mississippi

The game started with Hollywood Seminole’s Greg Carter hitting a three pointer. Then, Kelsey Spencer made a lay-up followed by Jerome’s back to back lay-ups. The defense was up to standard with as many steals were converted to points. Jerome Davis led the way with a steal that led to a thunderous dunk, followed by a Jordan steal and lay-up. Deforest Carter’s twisting reverse lay-up helped the Seminoles go out to a 21-14 first quarter lead.

The second quarter was a team effort as Jerome started the scoring with a powerful lay-up and foul shot. Greg then hits a driving lay-up followed by two Kelsey free throws, but its was a full court pass by Jerome to Deforest for a lay-up with three seconds left to take a 33-20 halftime lead.

Kelsey made a spinning reverse lay-up and foul shot followed by three Jerome lay-ups to take a commanding 48-27third quarter lead. Robert’s lay-up and a reverse lay-up by Troy Billie plus a put back by Jasper Tommie highlighted the fourth quarter and the win by the Hollywood Seminole’s. The final score was 54-37.

Game 3 vs. Nighthawks

The Nighthawks took the early lead but, a three pointer by Greg and a lay-up by Robert helped tie the game at five to end the first. In the second quarter, Jordan made a lay-up and a foul shot followed by a driving lay-up and two free throws by Deforest helped the Seminoles take a 14-13 halftime lead.

Jordan started the third quarter with a five foot jumper off the glass. Greg Carter then hit two jump hook shots in the lane. Another jumper by Jordan helped extend the lead but it was the steal and slam dunk by Jerome that put the crowd on its feet. The defense was tough as the Nighthawks were held scoreless in the quarter.

The Nighthawks made the first five points in the forth to cut the deficit 24-20 but the rally was halted by Jordan who stole the ball for a lay-up and then nailed a three pointer from the corner. Kelsey then made a driving lay-up, Deforest hits a three pointer, and Joseph Osceola made a long jumper to seal the 40-23 victory. Thus giving the Hollywood Seminole’s a place in the semifinals.

The semifinals were against the undefeated team from North Carolina, called Whatever

A Jordan hit a 10 foot jumper to end the first quarter dead locked at 11-11. Jerome started the scoring in the second as he hit two free throws; Kelsey buried a three pointer and two free throws to take the lead. Four points by Jerome gave the Seminoles a 23-19 half time lead.

The Hollywood Seminole’s took control of the game in the third highlighted by a Greg put back basket, Joseph three pointer, Deforest lay-up and a Jerome three pointer. They went into to the forth quarter with a 40-31 lead. Whatever mounted a comeback in the forth as they scored the first five points.

Jerome then hit two free throws followed by a spectacular pass by Greg between two defenders for a two handed lay-up. Then he followed up with a baseline jumper. Although the Hollywood Seminole’s had the lead, the pesky team from North Carolina was not ready to go down without a fight as they got within four points.

The Seminoles sealed the deal with a lay-up by Deforest and two Jerome free throws to seal the victory. The Final score was Hollywood Seminole’s 51 and Whatever 47.

The final was a rematch against Whatever, which won their way back from the losers bracket–their only loss was to the Seminole boys earlier in the tournament. However, since the tournament was a true double elimination tournament and the Seminole went into the game undefeated, they would have to lose twice not to win the championship.

The game started with a hustle rebound by Kelsey who in turn passed it to Jerome then passed it back to Kelsey for the three point bucket. Kelsey hit another three to go take the early lead. A Greg three pointer gave the Seminole the 10-9 first quarter lead. The second quarter had a few highlights. Such as a Deforest lay-up, defensive block shot by Greg, which led to a lay-up by Kelsey and a three pointer by Deforest with 10 seconds left till halftime. Hollywood Seminole’s took a 27-19 lead at halftime against team Whatever.

The second half was a different story as Whatever played tough defense and with the help of players Josh Crowe and Kyle Lossiah. They lead a furious comeback in the second half cutting the deficit to 8 going into the forth quarter. A lay-up by Deforest put the Seminoles up five with three minutes left in the game.

With one minute left, Whatever closed the gap and eventually tied the game with thirty seconds left. Kelsey made a free throw to go up one and giving them the lead. With eight seconds left in the game, Whatever’s Josh Crowe drove the length of the floor and made a finger-roll lay-up for the game winner. The final score was 46-45 which set up a rubber match and a true Championship game.

The Hollywood Seminoles verses Team Whatever for the 2006 Boys NAYO Championship

The hype was on and there was an electric feeling surrounding the Hollywood Gymnasium not seen in years. In front of a standing room only crowd, the last game of the evening was for all of the glory. Robert Osceola began the game with a rainbow floater followed by a Kelsey Spencer lay-up.

A magnificent behind the basket, high off the glass scoop shot by Deforest Carter and a bank shot by Robert helped the Seminoles take a 9-4 first quarter lead.

The second quarter saw Jerome Davis scored consecutive baskets, one being a drifting lay-up followed by a 10 foot jumper. Jasper Tommie then hit a five foot jumper off the glass to score; followed by Troy Billie’s strong drive to the basket to give the Hollywood Seminole’s a 17-11 halftime lead.

The second half began with Kelsey being fouled during a three point shot. He hit all three free throws. That was followed by a foot jumper by Jordan Jones. Kelsey scored again with a lay-up followed by a put back basket by Jerome.

Greg Carter drove hard to the basket for a lay-up and the Seminoles took a commanding 31-20 lead to end the third. Jordan started the forth with back to back buckets and then Robert followed a missed shot for a score. Jerome drove the lane and in mid air changed his shot and made a spectacular left handed floater. He then followed with an offensive rebound witch resulted in a one handed put back.

Jerome Davis, who not only finished with a game high 17 points but led the young Seminoles in rebounding, sealed the victory with two free throws at the end of the game for a 45-35 championship win.