AAU boys basketball

Local team seeks another national berth

Coach Matt Brobeck is making sure his Vetta Maverick 12&under team doesn't think it'll be easy to qualify again for the National AAU Boys Basketball Tournament.

Front Row (L-R): Mason Brobeck, Daniel Gardner, Kyle Kinner, Austin Sottile Back Row (L-R): Coach Matt Brobeck, Shane Lenhardt, Andy Bauer, Aaron Pangan, Asst. Coach Tim Lenhardt

One way he avoids complacency in his players is to schedule local games against top-notch, older competition.

Coach Brobeck's team finished 7th in the 2007 AAU national division-II tournament for 11&under boys teams.

The 2008 team has many of the same players and is hard at work preparing for qualifying tournaments in April and May. This year, the Mavericks move up one age grade and will be entered in Division-I play.

Coach Brobeck keeps his kids focused by scheduling games against teams with older players. For instance, the opponent at a game last month was a local team of 13&under kids who also had placed well in national competition last year.

A one-year difference in age between 12 and 13 often translates into a big height differential in boys. For instance, over half of the members of last month's opponent were taller than any of the Maverick players.

At first, the Mavericks broke their opponents' pressing defense with speed and sharp passes that led to numerous lay-ups. At halftime, the Mavericks trailed only 32-25.

But, the height and experience took effect after halftime, when fatigue set in. For this game, the Mavericks had a short bench and played only five kids for the whole game.

Eric McWoods

After the game-which the Mavericks lost by 30 points-Maverick point guard Eric McWoods of University City was asked what he learned in the game.

He said, "Don't try to pass over tall guys." He admitted Coach Brobeck reminded him during timeouts of the need for bounce passes, rather than lobs.

Eric is 4'11" and was usually facing opponents well over 6 feet tall. The lob passes stayed in the air too long and let back-line defenders move in to intercept.

After the game, Coach Brobeck downplayed the loss and focused on what the kids need to improve for the next game.

Even Booker

Twelve-year-old Evan Booker of Kirkwood is one of the taller Mavericks. But, at 5'8", he still was at a height disadvantage under the boards. He said one of the things he needs to do better is "boxing out opponents under the boards for rebounds."

Evan and Eric are two of the new members of the Mavericks team.

Kids who were on the team that placed well in last year's AAU nationals included Austin Sottile and Andy Bauer, both of Ballwin; Aaron Pangan of Chesterfield; Mason Brobeck of High Ridge and two players from Waterloo, Ill., Danny Gardner and Shane Lenhardt.

The other team member is Sam Rudnick of Des Peres. Sam wasn't on the team that played in last year's AAU national meet. But he had played for Coach Brobeck in the past. The coach said, "He took off last year to play baseball but he's back now."

Coach Brobeck said he's always on the lookout for players who can help his team.

He said one thing that helps him in recruiting is that he's the basketball director of the Vetta Sports Clubs. The company runs all-purpose athletic and sports clubs in the St. Louis area.

"It helps with recruiting when you have a place to play basketball," he said.

Also, Brobeck is an AAU director for boys and girls basketball.

Besides the high placing in last year's national AAU tournament, his team has been a winner in two Show-Me Games competitions.

Mason Brobeck

Mason Brobeck said last year's AAU tournament was his best basketball experience.

Most of the kids on the Mavericks started played basketball at a young age. Eric McWoods and Evan Booker said they started when they were in kindergarten. Mason said he started when he was in 1st grade.

When asked about the Mavericks' current won-loss record, Coach Brobeck said he doesn't put emphasis on winning and losing in the regular season. Whether the team will qualify for regional and national play is determined by the April and May tournaments.

From the start of the season in November until tournaments, the emphasis is on giving the kids a variety of learning experiences to make them better, individually and as a team.

For the Mavericks, that means played as many good teams as possible, even if they are made up of older, taller and more experienced kids.

Coach Brobeck said, "When we play kids our own age, we do pretty well."