SA Islander players Alexia Torres, Tara Molina, Belle Tovar, Sandy Ramirez, Erin Wimberley and Victoria Salinas were joined by Sam Washington, Tia Hairston and Alexis Worley to make an improbable run all the way to the Championship Final.
If you look closely a lot of factors, it makes their performances all that more impressive.
Erin Wimberley was just coming off a serious deep thigh bruise and was not even close to 100%. Victoria Salinas was coming off an extended month layoff of not playing with the team. Tia and Sam had helped a couple of tournaments but for the most part are coming from teams that have totally different offensive and defensive schemes. Alexis Worley didn't play AAU ball ALL season. She has never played AAU at this level at all.
I would venture to say, that some teams picked up some players to help. But all the major teams have been playing together all YEAR as a team. Not only have they played together but practiced together all year.
That in itself would put us in a huge disadvantage. We had one practice as a group.
Turnovers would have been a major problem because of Lack of so called Chemistry.
Alexia, Tara, Belle and Sandy for the most part were asked to adjust and play their games to compliment the other players to make it easier for everyone else. This could have caused major confusion in any other team.
But contrary, the girls were focused and determined. They got more comfortable as the tournament went on. In turn, confidence in themselves and their teammates began to grow exponentially.
We didn't depend on one, two or three players to carry the team. All the players were dependent on each other and held themselves accountable, not their teammates. Each player respected and accepted their role. NO ONE player was playing for themselves, each played for the betterment of the TEAM.
In the end, due to a large part and credit to the Ref's, the girls came up short in winning the Championship Trophy.
But is ultimate success measured in winning trophies?
The girls gained a large following from fans, other players, staff etc.
They gained tremendous respect from each team they defeated.
I heard from people over and over again.
"We love the way your girls play. They play hard! I wish our girls could play like that."
Over and over again, I heard.
"The skill level of your girls are incredible. I wish our girls had that skill level."
Over and over again,
People would point at our girls and whisper, "There go those Islanders" followed by "Let's go watch them play"
When it was OVER, They didn't need a trophy to show everyone that they were Winners.
Again and again, Strangers, Fans, People of all ages let me know they were.
GO ISLANDERS!!!