Rage 16-1 Members: Anthony Alvarez, Kyle Chapman, Jake Cooper, Spencer Jones, Jordan Neal, Mark Payne, Jason Shiflet, Jonathan Smoot, Samuel Vianna. Chris Bradshaw, Head Coach; Ally Bigler, Assistant Coach

Rage 16-1’s Title Just What the Doctor Ordered

“ Sick!”

That was the favorite phrase of the Rage 16-1’s team according to head coach Chris Brent. And it describes a season of overachievement and consistency that will mark this team as a contender in the next few seasons to come.

Brent’s fellas didn’t drop a game the entire region tournament and defeated the Club Platinum 16-1’s to take the Boys' 16’s Regional Championship at Home Courts on December 16th.

“At the beginning of the season I knew we were going to do well and the desire and attitude of the boys was amazing and that’s what carried them to the championship.” Brent said, but his 16’s teams may have even exceeded his expectations, starting in division three at the beginning of the season and working their way into the top divisions and playing the best teams in the region over the course of the season…the best 18’s teams!

“When we had made it to the very top division, not only playing with the 18 year olds, but playing with all the top 18's teams, the best of the best in AZ That’s when I knew we had what it would take to win it all.” Brent lauds.

But he does admit that he had one big obstacle to overcome. “These boys had so much talent but they are young and inexperienced.” He says. “They would always get intimidated by the older boys. We always tried to make it so they would realize that they didn't need to be scared of these teams that they were just as good if not better than them, and that was why we were playing in their division.”

That attitude did the trick and led to Rage’s perfect, or should we say ‘sick’ Regional Saturday in Tempe. Brent also knows the book isn’t closed on this team. “They got better with every practice and the sky is the limit for these boys!”

Which might make the rest of the region feel a bit queasy…

Dec 2006