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FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. The Connecticut Premier Hoops Development (PHD) dominated the Under 13 division in the Easter One Day Shoot Out in Brewster, N.Y. All teams played three games on Saturday. PHD beat the Rockland County Chargers, 74-26, the Connecticut Mavericks, 74-28, and the Alley Oop Group, 74-45. The PHD squad is made up of All-Star 13-year-olds recruited from the Fairfield County Basketball League winter seasons play.
In the first game of the day, Rockland County attempted to sag its zone defense around PHD's imposing low post trio of Patrick Harding (Fairfield), Alex Preston (Darien) and Jackson Cote (Wilton). Harding still managed to net 19 points. That defensive tactic allowed PHD's sharpshooters Ben Casparius (Westport), Carter Scott (Darien) and JJ Conway (Fairfield) to unleash a relentless barrage of successful three-point shots. Caparius led all scorers with 20, Scott had 19 and Conway had 15. Zak Swetye (Darien) and Mack Muller (Westport) were lockdown defenders for PHD.
In game two, the Connecticut Mavericks tried several defensive schemes, but none worked. Preston and Harding each had 24 points and Casparius put in 13.
In the final game, PHDs depth and balance showed well in helping it overcome the fatigue factor. Point guards Justin Seideman (Westport) and Jackson Ryan (Darien) orchestrated the action brilliantly, finding the open scorers in another impressive offensive display. Casparius put up 23, Muller scored 22 and Scott had 10. Conway went for nine and Seideman netted 12. Cote made his best contributions on the boards and in defensive rotations.
Next weekend, PHD stays in-state to compete in the New England Playerz Classic in Newtown. Some of the best AAU teams of Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island and New York will roll in to compete in that challenge.
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