Rosarito, Mexico

The Dallas Diesel Women’s Basketball team of the (WBCBL) returns 5-0 to Dallas, Texas as the 2016 Rosarito Clasico Champions. The Lady Diesel spent four days and nights south of the border in Rosarito Baja California, Mexico for the annual Rosarito Invitational Women’s Basketball Tournament. The event featured a very diverse combination of skill levels and styles of play with teams from Arizona, California, Georgia, Mexico, and Texas.

The Dallas Diesel rolled through the first and second rounds of play into the semi-finals to face a very aggressive UABC team. After a tough first half, the Lady Diesel shifted into overdrive to go on to win 78-41 and advance into the finals. To claim the championship, the Diesel had to face 4-time reigning defending champion Las Tucson Sol, which is also a member of the Women’s Blue Chip Basketball League (WBCBL).
Las Tucson Sol jumped to an early 10-point lead in the 1st quarter as the Diesel struggled to get in gear. At the half, the Sol still held a 10-point advantage over the Lady Diesel. But then it happened: the Lady Diesel came alive and started running the floor on all cylinders, making a series of big plays and getting the crowd excited. Jillianne Duffey (6’1 Forward – Texas A&M Corpus Christi Univ.) and Danai Woods (5’3 Guard – Univ. of Texas Tyler) knocked down back-to-back jumpers to spark things up, off back-to-back steals by Miesha Blackshear (5’7 Guard – Univ. Texas at Permian Basin) and Connie James-Roseman (5’8 Guard – Long Island Univ.). The excitement of the crowd seemed to fuel the Lady Diesel to catch their second wind and take a 7 point lead by the end of the 3rd quarter.

In the 4th quarter, a costly turnover and two quick fouls by the Dallas Diesel gave the Tucson Sol the opportunity to capitalize on the Diesel’s mistakes to make the score 55-53, with only 0:09 left on the clock. The Sol went to the foul-line for a pair of free-throws but only made one, bringing the score to 55-54.  The missed attempt bounced long to the right, but the rebound was quickly recovered in the corner by the Las Tucson Sol. With only 0:07 remaining, Tucson tried to square up for one last shot, but was instantly trapped by Dallas Diesel veterans Chantoya Hawkins (5’5 Guard – Oklahoma State Univ.) and Layla Schwarz-McCray (6’4 Forward – Oklahoma Baptist Univ.). McCray was able to come up with the steal and secure the ball and victory as the remaining 0:04 ticked away.

“It wasn’t quite the way I wanted it to go, with the flat start and sluggishness, but I’m very proud of our ladies’ tenacity to fight through it by the grace of God. This was a great experience for us and great momentum for us to carry forward into our upcoming WBCBL season.” -Dallas Diesel Head Coach, Willie McCray.

The 4-time defending champion, Las Tucson Sol, will travel to Baja Mexico for the annual Rosarito Basketball Classic on March 17-20th. This event has featured players from around the world and with playing experiences ranging from street-ball and pro-am, to collegiate and the professional levels.
 
This year, the tournament will feature two additional WBCBL teams, The Dallas Diesel and the Georgia Soul. Joey Lomeli, Las Tucson Sol’s Head Coach/Owner, has been a long-time follower and participant in the tournament.
 
"The tournament has grown so large over the years that it has to break away from the men’s event to have the women’s tournament on a separate weekend for women only." - Coach Lomeli
 
Rosarito is a beautiful city and growing but offers great hospital and very supportive basketball fan base. Rosarito also serves as serious training ground the Baja 17U-18U players.
 
In conjunction with Circuito Rosarito, the Women’s Blue Chip Basketball League (WBCBL) will host free youth basketball clinics during the spring/summer of 2016 in Rosarito.

Pictured from l to r Bottom Meredith Stokes, Adrienne Stuckey, Ernesia Wright, Eboni Fields, Kami Phillips J’Nece Jackson, Special Jennings, Sabrina Hawthorne, Chantal Grier, Michael Sweeper
Top Brittany Brown, Kate Matthai, Lacoya Terry, Wilka Montout, Shay Rawls, Taylor Ayers, Tracey Flowers, Jolene Tamboue
 
The Women’s Blue Chip Basketball League announces the arrival of the Georgia Soul Basketball Organization
 
The Georgia Soul Basketball Professional Developmental Organization is a newly founded women’s basketball organization.  Located in Grovetown, Georgia, the Georgia Soul consists of some of the finest players in the CSRA, with playing experience from every level of basketball. Lead by owner and head coach Ernesia Wright, it’s the goal of the Georgia Soul to redefine the sport of women’s basketball and develop the total female athlete both on and off the court. Through community outreach, leadership, mentorship, and sisterhood members of the Georgia Soul Basketball Organization bridge the gaps, transforming young girls into women while giving back to their communities. Along with her staff which[WEDC1]  includes, Adrienne Stuckey (Team Manager), Michael Sweeper (Assistant coach), Sabrina Hawthorne (Assistant Coach), Chantal Grier (Guard Coach), Meredith Stokes (Post Coach), and LaTasha Brown (Director of Basketball Organizations).Together they return the spirit and love for the game of basketball to the CSRA. The Georgia Soul Basketball Organization is skilled group of young women and men who are passionate about the game of basketball and will show that the game not only has an impact in the sport itself but in the community as well. Stayed tuned and see what this great organization has planned for the game of women’s basketball.

- Georgia Soul Staff