The message stated the Tigers had been chosen to take part in Geico Nationals, lengthy seen because the nation’s most prestigious highschool basketball event. Not solely did the invitation to the Fort Myers, Fla., occasion imply New Hope would have a shot at a national title, it meant Fauntleroy’s senior season was nonetheless alive.
“We went through a lot this season. It’s been a long year. It would mean a lot to end it [with a championship],” Fauntleroy stated.
New Hope is one among 4 native groups set to participate in national postseason tournaments this yr. They will probably be joined in the Geico bracket by Bishop McNamara, whereas the boys’ and ladies’ groups from Sidwell Friends will take part in the inaugural State Champions Invitational, an occasion in Tampa placed on by the identical organizers.
The Geico Nationals will happen first, with video games beginning Thursday and a champion being topped over the weekend. New Hope gained this occasion in 2019, this system’s second yr in existence. Coach Sam Caldwell’s group defeated Washington Catholic Athletic Conference energy St. John’s in the championship.
The Tigers may face one other WCAC problem this yr, as they’ve a first-round bye and await the winner of Bishop McNamara and IMG Academy (Fla.) in the semifinals. Coach Frank Oliver’s Mustangs acquired an invitation after going undefeated in the vaunted convention in the course of the common season. They fell to St. John’s in final month’s WCAC championship sport, however their résumé was sufficient to earn them a spot in the five-team discipline.
The Mustangs (20-5) face IMG Academy on Thursday at 10 a.m. The winner performs New Hope (26-2) on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. That semifinal sport will probably be broadcast on ESPNU.
The newly shaped State Champions Invitational will start subsequent week. The Sidwell Friends ladies’ group, broadly ranked as one of the best in the nation, is the highest seed in the four-team bracket, whereas the Sidwell boys are the No. 4 seed in their event.
Quakers ladies’ coach Tamika Dudley stated she heard from Paragon Marketing group, the longtime organizers of the Geico Nationals, late in the common season about the potential for a brand new event meant to spotlight extra conventional highschool basketball. Whereas the Geico Nationals usually characteristic unbiased packages, this new occasion is for faculties which have gained a state championship and observe National Federation of State High School Association guidelines.
The Geico Nationals will now solely be open to unbiased faculties or faculties that select to not compete for state championships.
“It’s just giving more opportunities for girls to participate in postseason play,” Dudley stated.
But national postseason tournaments, due to their late-winter or early-spring timing, usually require taking part faculties to navigate by means of crimson tape. Extending a highschool sports activities season is difficult, particularly when most athletes have spring sport or AAU basketball commitments.
With that in thoughts, Dudley is aiming to maintain the follow schedule mild. Her group will reassemble Monday and prepare for simply three days earlier than leaving for Florida.
“At this point, if they don’t know it they don’t know it,” the coach stated with amusing. “We’ve been doing this for a long time.”
The Quakers (28-0) will face Nevada’s Centennial High on April 8 at 4 p.m. The sport will be seen on ESPNU.
On the boys facet, Sidwell Coach Eric Singletary introduced his group again collectively for practices this week. It has been practically a month for the reason that Quakers ended their season with probably the most dramatic of state championship wins. That last-second, come-from-behind victory that earned them a spot in this occasion.
Most of Singletary’s athletes take part in a spring sport, so he was grateful there was a number of weeks between that DCSAA closing and the beginning of this new occasion.
Sidwell (28-1) will face Florida’s Calvary Christian on April 7 at 4 p.m. That sport will also be seen on ESPNU.
“It’s always a great thing to be with your guys one more time. Especially those seniors,” Singletary stated. “To be able to put the jersey on one more time after you thought it was over. …That’s a thrill.”