Newport Lightning 12U Black captures championship

The Newport Lightning Basketball Club’s 12U Black team continued its strong showing in the winter winning the 13U division title of the Focus/SGV Invitational Tournament in Seal Beach Feb. 14.

The 12U team went 4-1 on the weekend beating CYB, Team D’Termined and OC Select heading into the title game. The NLBC lost a tough game on Saturday to CAYB, but faced that team again in the championship game on Sunday and won, 46-33, to cap a great weekend of basketball.

The Lightning were on fire to start the game and were led by the stellar play of Jack Johnston who blocked 10 shots (four in the opening minutes) leading to fast-break opportunities for Ryder Brooks (10 points, five steals, seven rebounds), Sanjay Tewari (seven points, four steals, six assists) and Lucas Newton (six points, eight rebounds, three steals).

Jordan Stucki hit three three-pointers (nine points, four rebounds, two assists) while Braedyn Benhard (six rebounds, three blocks) and Julian Daaboul (four rebounds, four steals) manned the paint and played stellar defense in the game. Johnston also added 12 points and 15 rebounds in the finale.

Roddie Anderson and Jack Salmon played excellent basketball all weekend, but were unable to play in the championship game.

The NLBC 12U Black team is 20-2 in its last three months of play and has competed in the 13U division since November.

— Reader submission