Measuring up: Pioneers star adds resume-building victories
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Recommend ThisBy Tommy Keeler Jr. - tkeeler@nvdaily.com
WINCHESTER -- Courtni Green has been part of two Group AA girls basketball state championship teams, and a winning streak that is currently at 50 games. She temporarily set a record for most points scored in the state tournament, and she is well on her way to eclipsing 2,000 points for her career. Last week, the Millbrook rising senior added something else to her resume.
Green and her 16U Amateur Athletic Union teammates beat the team widely considered the No. 1 ranked team in the country -- twice. The Fairfax Stars won the Nike Summer Showcase last week beating DFW Elite, which is a team from Texas, 59-52 in the championship game.
"This definitely gives us confidence going into the second part of July," Green said. "[DFW] had beaten us before, earlier in the season. So to come back out and play hard and beat them was pretty big. I think it showed how hard we've worked throughout the year.
"It felt really good."
The Fairfax Stars participated in the AAU Junior Showcase in Orlando Fla., on July 8-10. The Stars advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to Essence, a team based in Florida. The semifinals and finals of the tournament were shown on ESPN3.
The Stars left Orlando and headed straight to Elgin, Ill., just outside of Chicago, for the Nike Summer Showcase on July 11-15. In the first game of the pool-play round, the Stars knocked off DFW Elite, 56-48. Green, who is a starter for the Stars, said the win gave her team a lot of confidence as it moved forward in the tournament.
The Stars advanced to the final without losing a game, where DFW Elite was waiting for them. Green said the Stars knew DFW would be looking for some revenge, and that they would have to play at their highest level again. The Stars trailed early, but rallied to pull out the title.
DFW Elite has two players ranked in ESPN HoopGurlz's Top 15 rising senior rankings and six in the top 100. Three of the six have verbally committed to reigning national champion Texas A&M. Moriah Jefferson is ranked No. 2 by ESPN and has given her verbal commitment to the University of Connecticut. Green said winning the title was different from winning the high school state title.
"They are two different accomplishments," Green said. "Beating DFW -- that's the best team you could play against. They have some of the best players in the entire country. I think it really shows you how good of a player you are."
Two of Green's teammates, Katie McComick and Logan Battle, are ranked in the top 100 by ESPN and both have verbally committed to Georgetown. The Stars play in a tournament in Washington this weekend and then will travel to North Augusta, S.C., for the Nike Nationals. The Nike Nationals is a tournament made up of only Nike-sponsored teams.
After their second win over DFW Elite, ESPN made the Stars the top story on the girls basketball page of the website. Green said she knows teams will now be gunning for them as they play their last two tournaments of the season.
"It's nice to be the one people want to see -- to be one of the best," Green said. "We beat the No. 1 team in the country. Now we'd like to have a chance to be the No. 1 team or maybe the No. 2 team in the country."
Green said she feels like her game has improved throughout the spring and summer. Green said at this point, she's received seven Division I scholarship offers. July is a big month for recruiting, and there were many college coaches at the tournaments in Orlando and Chicago.
Green said she plans to make a decision sometime in August, after the AAU season is over.
"Right now, I just want to enjoy the rest of July and have fun," Green said. "I haven't really thought too much about [committing to a college]. I just want to enjoy it and when the time comes to make a decision, I'll choose one."
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