2009 Girls' Basketball Classic Field Finalized

The field has been finalized for the 2009 Girls' Classic. Teams participating will be:

National Teams:

• West Springfield (Springfield, VA) - 2003 Junior Orange Bowl Classic champion, an always competitive squad, completed 2008-09 with a record 22-4, where their leading scorers were freshman April Robinson & Logan Battle. West Springfield girls? basketball coach Bill Gibson, who started at West Springfield in 1986-87 and has amassed over 500 wins and two state titles in the 23 years since. He has had only one losing season at West Springfield, his first one. His 1998-99 team finished 30-0, ranked #5 in the country, and featured Kara Lawson who was named Naismith Player of the Year.
• John Marshall (Chicago, IL) - 2008-09 record 24-7; finished 3rd in Illinois 3-A state tournament; coach Dorothy Gaters was honored at the McDonald?s All American Banquet with a lifetime achievement award. Gaters created the program at Marshall in 1974 and since that beginning has won 907 games?more than any other coach, boys or girls, in Illinois history. Gaters captured her eighth state title in 2008 when her Lady Commandos won the Class 3-A title. At Marshall, Gaters has produced 17 high school All-Americans and three Ms. Illinois Basketball Players of the Year.
• Christian Academy of Louisville (Louisville, Kentucky) - They will have 2 senior-to-be D-1 players who have committed to D-1 schools, plus other players who will play D2 or better. Nita Slaughter has committed to the University of Louisville as a freshman. Allison Karst has not committed yet, but will make a decision soon. Anna Hart is recruited by Western Kentucky and Murray State University. They finished the 2008-09 season 25-5 and were ranked as high as #2 in state during this past season, beating 6 of the top 10 teams in Kentucky.
• Ramsay (Birmingham, AL) ? They have the #1 ranked player in the 2010 class, Kaneisha Horn, 6'1? Power Wing Player, who has been offered scholarships from over 20 different schools, including Rutgers, Duke, Louisville and Florida State. Coach Robert Mosley has guided the Lady Rams to 4 consecutive 5A Alabama State Championships (2004-2007). Kaneisha Horn is coming off successful ACL surgery in January 2009 and will probably miss much of the summer season but should be back in top form for the regular high school season.

Florida Teams:

• Miami Norland (Miami, FL) - They capped off the 2008-09 season with a perfect 32-0 season and a Florida 6A championship. They return 5' 11" wing guard/forward Cleondra Roberts and 5'4" point guard Stephanie Coney.
• Hialeah (Hialeah, FL) - Finished 13-11 in 2008-09 season. They return 5'10? Forward Jasmine Wilkins, 2nd team All County and Chandler Merkerson, 6' wing guard/forward.
• Our Lady of Lourdes (Miami, FL) - Returns 1st team All County 5'7? Guard Takia Brooks and 3rd team All County 5'6? Guard Jackie Perez. Finished the 2008-09 season 30-2, losing to eventual state champion Norland in the Regional Semi-Finals. They return to the Junior Orange Bowl Classic where they won three consecutive championships (1996 - 1998).
• Gulliver Preparatory (Pinecrest, FL) - Finished the 2008-09 season with a 25-3 record, losing to eventual 3A state champion Parkway Academy in the Regional Semi-Finals. Returns 1st team All County Guard Alyssa Baron and 1st team All County Center Danielle Amaya.

Teams interested in the 2010 Classic can email us for more information at basketball@jrorangebowl.com. The basketball committee is looking for more volunteers to help with the Junior Orange Bowl Basketball Classic. If you are interested, please email us at basketball@jrorangebowl.com or call Chuck Little at (786) 546-3386