"The Dream Team (2014 17u Team)"

“A championship caliber team,” “an all-star team,” “the self-proclaimed greatest team ever assembled.” These were the many names given to the 2014 17u team. However, what makes this team a “dream team?” Could it be the experience factor? Could it be that over 50 percent over the roster made all-league honors? Could it be that this team took two years in the making? Could it be the fact that this group alone won five championships? Or maybe it could be the fact this group was just that talented. We will never know, however, what we do know is this group will be hard to follow.

Where do we begin? Do we start in the beginning? Do we start with an 8-0 start including two consecutive championships in the Winner Take All Tournament and the ARC Duel in The Desert in Palm Springs? Do we start with the National Championships? Do we start with the last tournament our four seniors ever played?

Perhaps we can start with a little trip to Cal Poly Pomona in the month of February. For the second consecutive year, Coach Troy invited Team Industry to watch the Cal Poly Pomona Men’s Basketball team play for an outright conference championship. Inspired by the team’s play, Coach Troy put it upon himself to motivate his players to prepare for the upcoming 2014 season. With a returning roster of ten players, Coach Troy knew he had an experienced roster. All that was left was to recruit three role players to further strengthen the roster. Bryan Ramirez, Andy Vaca, and Frank Acosta joined Team Industry with the sole purpose to prepare themselves for their junior and senior seasons. With the distractions of the 2013 season well behind them, it was time to play basketball.

Following a 3-0 start in the Winner Take All Tournament defeating Redlands Storm, B3ST, and the Big Ballers in Overtime, Team Industry knew it had a tough road ahead. The following weekend Team Industry looked to redeem themselves in the Duel in the Desert Tournament. This time around Team Industry had to go through Cali Elite, San Pedro Knights, and the So Cal Warriors. Going in to Palm Springs, So Cal Warriors were the team to beat. However, Industry took care of business before advancing to the Semi-Finals as the number one seed to take on Hardwork Elite. After advancing to the finals, Team Industry took on So Cal Warriors in the anticipated rematch. After being down ten points in the final two minutes, Industry rallied back behind a pair of threes from Edvin Peraza and Kyle Price. However it was Kyle Price’s three pointer over Cal State San Louis Obispo’s Serigne Athj that sent the game into overtime. It was in overtime following a pair of free throws from Jason Reyes and Kyle Price’s reverse layup that sealed Team Industry’s first championship on the road.

But wait a minute……..if this was the dream team why is there record blemished after an 8-0 start? If this was the dream team why has Industry been an abysmal 1-5 in the month of April since 2013? In the month of April Industry went through a struggle as Industry competed in their first NCAA live event entitled the Double Pump Hoop Fest. The Hoop Fest brought all the best AAU teams in the west coast like A1+, Earl Watson Elite, Arizona Power, The Big Ballers, Las Vegas Knicks, etc. After falling to the BTI All-Stars, Bay Area Ballers, and Arizona Magic, Team Industry was going into the end of the spring period 8-3 with the ARC San Diego Memorial Invitational on the horizon. Coach Troy called an emergency practice the day after the Hoop Fest encouraging his players to regain their focus. Come San Diego…..Industry did just that.

In San Diego, Industry went 3-1 defeating San Diego Sol, Earl Watson Elite 16u, and Arizona Pharaohs. Industry did however fall in the semi-finals against Edge bringing their overall record to 11-4. Yes, Industry fell in the semi-finals, but one thing was for sure was throughout the rest of the year, more and more role players stepped up in crucial situations. Remember this is a dream team right? Players step up in big games right? Do we mention that Bryan Ramirez arrived in San Diego scoring eight points against a tough Arizona Pharaohs…….not to mention going six for eight from the free throw line? Do we mention guys like Chancce Padilla and Andy Vaca stepping up big in the Post-Memorial Day Tournament? Do we talk about David Gonzales’ double-double performance against Classic Basketball in the Cream of The Crop Challenge? Heck, maybe we can talk about how Frank Acosta went from last man off the bench to the starting five at the end of the season. One thing is for certain, players step up in big games.

After winning two consecutive championships in June, Team Industry returned to the National Championships in Las Vegas. However, this time around the results were slightly different and the preparation was far different than the previous year. Team Industry was better prepared and was on a mission to redeem themselves by winning their first National Championship. Their first task was not an easy one as they were set to face off against the 2013 runner-ups Alaska Gold. However, there first loss was a devastating one as they lost in overtime 60-52. Team Industry rebounded in games two and three defeating Santa Margarita High School and CBAB Outlawz. Going 2-1 in pool play, Team Industry found themselves in the semi-finals going up against Team 907 from Alaska. Falling short in the semi’s 60-51, Team Industry left Vegas 2-2 and an overall record of 19-6.

The following week, Team Industry played in the Full-Court Press/Pangos Cream of The Crop Challenge in Garden Grove, CA. This tournament serves as a prelude to most teams for the prestigious Fab 48 taking place the following weekend. However, Industry took the Cream of the Crop Challenge as a stepping stone to prepare themselves for the Fab 48 in 2015. Their first task was once again not easy as Team Industry took on Humboldt Wild. This game was notable for having plenty of Division II and III scouts in attendance. However, the most notable college coach on hand was Humboldt State. That didn’t stop the backcourt from Team Industry from putting on a clinic. Despite guards Kyle Price’s and Jason Reyes’ stellar performance which combined for 49 of Industry’s 73 points, Team Industry fell to the Humboldt wild 82-73. Industry would go on to defeat the LA Raptors, Classic Basketball, and TWE Elite in the final three games of the tournament bringing their overall record to 22-7. This tournament served as the final time Team Industry would have all four of their seniors play at the same time as Forward Anthony De Leon was going to miss the senior finale tournament due to vacation.

With the senior finale tournament in place, Team Industry knew they had to win it all for their seniors. Their commitment and excellence they brought to the table since day one had to be on display for one final time in the Bring the Noise Tournament. Despite subpar performances the first two games, Team Industry would defeat Pomona H.S. and Redlands Storm. Coach Troy wasn’t pleased after the first two games because he knew Industry could’ve performed a lot better. Team Industry responded in a monstrous way in their third game and final game of the tournament winning 77-19. Their last game was led by Juan Covarrubias’ 23 points as Industry made a season high 11 three pointers to secure their fifth championship of 2014. It was a bittersweet moment for Coach Troy. He knew after the Bring the Noise Tournament it would be the final time his seniors wore the blue and white. However, he was more than pleased to see his players move on to the next level.

This brings us back to the original question. What makes this a dream team? Is this the greatest Industry team ever assembled? A dream team is supposed to end the season unblemished and undefeated right? A dream team is not allowed to go through ups and downs throughout the whole season right? Is this a dream team? Only time will tell if the 2014 17u Team Industry was the greatest Industry team assembled. However, if you knew everything about this team, you’d realize that any coach would be honored to have the opportunity to lead these young men. These thirteen individuals were more than just teammates…….they were brothers. They were brothers with one common goal……to risk everything for the pursuit of a championship. Without this team there is no foundation. Without this team there is no future. More importantly, without this team there is no Team Industry. Was this THE dream team? We don’t know, but boy were they something to watch every tournament!