PORT CHESTER, New York - The Port Chester Kings U13 AAU basketball team qualified for the Division II Nationals for the third consecutive season and Matt Datin of Newtown helped lead them there.
PORT CHESTER, New York â The Port Chester Kings U13 AAU basketball team qualified for the Division II Nationals for the third consecutive season and Matt Datin of Newtown helped lead them there.
The tournament began on June 25 and ran through July 2 and the Kings ran into some tough competition out of Tennessee, Arkansas and Minnesota. While they opened with a 49-38 win over Minnesota Magic Black, the Kings dropped decisions to the South Arkansas Hoyas (39-36) and the Tennessee Thunder (72-50) and did not make it out of pool play.
The Kings qualified for the nationals with their performance in the U13 Division II regionals in Long Island back in May.
The Kings opened with a tough 46-42 loss to Rising Stars, but bounced back with a 56-48 win over the Long Island Lightning. Datin helped power the Kings to a 10-point halftime lead, which enabled them to withstand full court pressure and a strong rally in the second half.
Against another Rising Stars team, the Kings fell into a 10-0 hole in the first period of their next game but good man pressure and several steals helped the Kings rally for a 23-18 lead at the half. The Kings blew the game open in the second half, winning by 27.
Needing to win two games the following day, the Kings rallied back from a 21-point first half deficit to the Glenn Hines Boys & Girls Club of New York City. Datin helped power an offense that tied the game with one minute left to play, but it was his efforts on defense â holding the Glenn Hines leading scorer to just one three-pointer in the game â that was the key.
The Kings then qualified for the nationals with a 33-31 win over the Rockland Rockets later that afternoon. Down 18-11 at the half, the Kings once again rallied with solid interior defense and rebounding â led again by Datin â against a much bigger Rockland team.