Youth Sports - Basketball - Flexx All-Stars Blue Make Semifinals of Loudoun Triple Threat Summer League Tournament

Photo courtesy of Tom Tighe

(July 27, 2010) - After a tumultuous regular season in which the team had to overcome multiple roster changes due to injuries and vacations, the Flexx All-Stars Blue boys basketball team beat the Loudoun Hustle last night, 41-23, to advance to the semifinals of the Loudoun Triple Threat Summer League Championship.

“We are going to be a tough team to beat,” said Flexx coach Darrell Durst, “We gave the two top ranked teams all they wanted earlier in the season even without several key players.”

Durst believes his team may have turned the corner. Last night’s victory against the Loudoun Hustle avenged a midseason loss. While the team will have to play without its starting guard Chris Little for the remainder of the playoffs, the Blue team got strong guard play from both James Larsen who led the team with 14 points on the night and Nathan Durst who had 12 (after moving from his normal three spot).

“Nathan had a very strong game for us. Not only did he score some huge buckets, his defense produced multiple steals and he had several key rebounds,” said Flex assistant coach James Larsen.

The offensive scoring was particularly well balanced with all players scoring and three players scoring in double digits.

After taking a 8-point lead to the half, the Loudoun Hustle team made a big run scoring 7 unanswered points and taking the lead midway through the 3rd quarter. Durst called a timeout and the Blue team then came out with a new level of defensive intensity.

“We just told them to relax and play their game. The Loudoun team made a nice run, but our defense overwhelmed them in the 4th quarter,” said Durst.

The key to the game came early in the 4th quarter when star forward Ryder Sousa got hot and matched his defensive intensity with some key shooting.

“That kid was a huge difference maker tonight. Rebounding, defense, scoring…he did it all for us tonight,” said Durst.

Michael Maher, one of the team’s top scorers had a quiet night offensively, but was particularly active on the boards. In the second half alone Maher nabbed three crucial rebounds while boxing out the taller players from the Loudoun Hustle squad.

According to Coach Durst, Maher was tough on the boards all night, but his passing was superb. “Great passer, good vision,” commented Durst. Maher led the team with four assists.

Do everything athlete Dominic Rubino did it all again last night playing three different positions and he never came out of the game.

“He’s just the consummate competitor on the court,” said Flexx Blues assistant coach James Larsen. The undersized Point/Forward guarded players a foot taller than him all night and won most of the battles.

“He’s quick, he can jump, and he’s tenacious," said Durst.

According to the coaches, the team could not have won last night without the bench support of Ethan Tighe, who played center, guard, and forward at different times during the game and brought his high energy to the court each time.

“Ethan’s a great utility player who can rebound and handle the ball too. He’s the perfect unselfish teammate,” said Larsen.

Late in the game point guard Larsen drained two free throws and the Blue Team never looked back.

“That was a big win tonight," said Durst. "Now we have to bring it against the Winchester team."

The semifinal game will be played at Belmont Ridge MS tonight at 6:15pm.