The Maryland Lady Shooting Stars responded to parents’ plea to continue to allow their daughters to play basketball after their introduction season last fall. With many of the girls under aged or having not played competitive basketball before, much concern generated around the girls’ tolerance to play at the Stars pace especially after winning only one game in the Fall League. To appease the girls and parents appetite, the “babies” were entered in three leagues: 12U AA County League, 10U Arbutus League, and 10U VA Cardinal League. Initially, coaches drew criticism by some who voiced an uncertainty about the team’s ability to compete since many of the girls had never played AAU basketball. The thought of traveling the Beltway and/or Parkway to Southern Maryland, Arlington, VA then Lansdowne, MD (sometimes all in the same day) became daunting.
Nonetheless, coaches were adamant about the girls’ vast improvement over the season and felt that the girls could play against higher competition. The doubts soon erased as the Baby Stars took all three leagues by storm mounting unexpected wins over the majority of their older opponents. The Stars’ success became so wide spread that it earned the team an invitation to play in the Dream Makers Tournament whereby they went 2-1 against 11U AAU competition. As the season progressed, so did the “babies” who were subsequently crowned the 2009 12U “D” League Champions; placed 2nd in both the 2009 Arbutus and VA Cardinals Leagues. As the Stars enter its first AAU season, the mindset and expectation have totally elevated. Coaches, parents, and the girls know that they have the ingredients to compete on the AAU circuit. All understand the sacrifice it takes to be successful. More importantly, all are willing to put in the hard work that has shown to pay off if there is total commitment. Please join me in congratulating the newest members of our family as they have already adopted our tradition of winning. Go Stars!!!