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Box Of M.E.S.S.’s Alex Kline attends National Signing Day 2010 at The Pennington School. Signing their National Letters of Intent are Kait Kerr (Duke Soccer), Alexa DeMaio (Vermont Soccer), Harold Spears (New Hampshire Football), Erin Simon (Rutgers Soccer), Dontae Johnson (NC State Football), John Ricketti (NJIT Soccer), and Renee Washington (La Salle Soccer).

Thanks to all the athletes for sharing their big day with us here at Boxofmess.com.

This work by boxofmess.com/ is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Based on a work at boxofmess.com/. Attribution No Derivatives This license allows for redistribution, commercial and non-commercial, as long as it is passed along unchanged and in whole, with credit to boxofmess.com

It was the game that everyone had wanted for many years. The game that would decide who was truly the best in Mercer County, New Jersey. The defending Mercer County Champions, Pennington, took on a state powerhouse, Trenton Catholic. TCA & Pennington were full of some of the best athletes in the state of New Jersey and it showed as both teams were off to great starts. However, this game would not have the result you would think. Everyone in the state was shocked to learn the results.

It was clear what Pennington’s game plan was from the opening tip. This was to slow the game down, force TCA into a half-court game, and make the Iron Mikes shoot plenty of 3-point attempts. Boy did it work, as Pennington pulled off the thrilling upset at a sold-out Sparks Memorial Gymnasium, 40-37 over Trenton Catholic.

With Pennington leading most of the game it came as no surprise that TCA would come back. The Red Raiders, down 37-36 with about a minute remaining in the fourth quarter and the Iron Mikes holding possession, wanted the ball back. Dontae Johnson dove for a loose ball along the baseline like the defensive back he is. Johnson, a 2010 North Carolina State Football commit, called a timeout to give Pennington the ball and a chance to take the lead.

After the timeout, Harold Spears ran a pick-and-roll with Johnson, drove past Iron Mike’s big man Markese Tucker along the baseline, and made a reverse layup with under 45 seconds left to give the Red Raiders the lead.

After two missed opportunities by Khalid Lewis El; Anthony Gaffney snagged a rebound and passed it up to Chandler Fraser-Pauls who made it a 3-point game. Dondre Whitmore attempted a 3-pointer to tie the game. The ball went in and out! 

This was not the last chance for TCA, however. Fraser-Pauls missed the a one-and-one at the free throw line to give the Iron Mikes one last chance to escape with 11 seconds remaining. Frantz Massenat chucked two final 3-point shots up, but the second one missed everything. The buzzer sounded with the Red Raiders pulling off the inprobable.

The best news was the money collected from tickets went to Haiti. The event raised over $2,800!!! In that case, everyone is a winner.

Team         1       2       H       3       4       F    
TPS            12     8       20     14      6      40
TCA            8      9       17      12      8     37

The Pennington School

Harold Spears- 13pts, 2/5 3P, 1/2 FT
Chandler Fraser-Pauls- 10pts, 1/2 3P, 3/5 FT
Anthony Gaffney- 7pts, 1/2 FT
Dontae Johnson- 6pts, 2/4 FT
James Anderson- 4pts, 1/2 3P, 1/2 FT

Trenton Catholic

Dondre Whitmore- 9pts, 3/6 3P
Frantz Massenat- 7pts, 1/3 FT
Ron Paden- 6pts, 2/2 3P
Brandon Taylor- 6pts
Khalid Lewis El- 5pts, 1/3 FT
Markese Tucker- 4pts

Thanks to Blog.NorthstarBball.com for the stats.

Not since Kylee Rossi, a graduate of 2005, has the Pennington School had such a profiled women’s soccer player. But that all changed 4 years ago when New Hope, Pennsylvannia resident Amber Brooks enrolled at Pennington. Since then Amber has had many accomplishments. First off, she is commited to the defending National Champion University of North Carolina Tar Heels.?Brooks is the?#1 Ranked Girls Soccer Player in the Nation ESPN RISE and Top Drawer Soccer, a 2007 NSCAA and Parade Magazine All American, a 2008 NSCAA Scholar Athlete of the Year, a 3x 1st Team NJ All Prep, a 2006 NJ Prep Player of the Year, a 2006 NSCAA Youth All-American. To top that off, she plays with the U20 US Women’s National Team Pool Member. Oh! and did we mention Amber’s high school team Pennington finished with an undefeated season and finished #1 in the country for the first time in school history. We here at M.E.S.S got an exclusive interview with the future Tar Heel.

What are some goals that you’ve set for yourself for the 2009 Fall Season for UNC?
“Coming in as a freshman and trying to win a starting position for the defending national champions with 8 starting seniors is going to be a tough task in itself. My individual goal is to get on the field and make an impact as quickly as possible and I obviously want to help the team win it?s 21st National Championship and send the seniors out with a bang.”

As the #1 recruit for 2009, did you ever feel any pressure from the media and people to perform well all the time?
“Being ranked the #1 Recruit for 2009 was a great honor but in truth rankings are simply a few people’s opinion and can’t be taken to literally. Even before the ranking came out I’ve always felt pressure to perform well but more because I am competiive in nature and always want to play to the best of my ability.”

What made you choose UNC from the other colleges what about that school made you go “I want to be a Tarheel”?
“It?s been my dream since I was seven years old to play for UNC. From a soccer standpoint, UNC is the best of the best. The success they have had as a team and the individual success their players have had during and following their college careers is second to none. Academically, UNC is one of the top three public universities in the nation and the school spirit is incredible which makes for a great social atmosphere. Simply put, when I added up all the positives, it seemed crazy to even think about attending any other school.”

Who inspired you to play soccer?and?helped you grow into the player you are today?
“Both my mom and dad played soccer in college and Growing up I watched my two older brothers? play and I always wanted to copy what they were doing. They treated me like one of the guys which accounts for the toughness I play with today.”

Who is your favorite professional soccer player (male or female)?
“There are many professional soccer players that I am inspired by, but I would have to say that Lionel Messi from FC Barcelona and Argentina is currently my favorite player. He is incredibly fluid and creative with the ball at his feet and can virtually pull off the impossible. However, my favorite quality of his is that he is a two way player and works extremely hard on both offense and defense.”

Who do you attribute a lot of your success too? Who has helped you?
“I have to attribute the majority of my success to my parents. Not only did they provide me with good genes but they have always been my number one fans and provided me with every opportunity to improve my game. I?ve also had numerous trainers and coaches along the way that have fostered my development. Lastly, the Olympic Development Program has provided me with international playing experience and prepared me for the National team level.”

What was the greatest part of your high school career?
“There were so many great moments during my high school career, but I would have to say that the Prep A State Championship game my freshman year ranks among the top. Nearly the entire school was in the stands and I scored the two goals in a tight game that we won 2-1 over Lawrenceville.”

After college, will you want to continue soccer for a career or move on to something different?
“After college I hope to play professionally and for the full women?s national team for as long as my body will allow. Hopefully the Women?s Professional League that is starting up this spring will last, but if not I would certainly entertain the option of playing overseas. I want to make the full women?s national team and play for the team in a World Cup and in the Olympics.”

What is your biggest non athletic accomplishment?
“My greatest non-athletic accomplishment was being awarded the 2008 NSCAA/Adidas Girl s? High School Scholar Athlete of the Year.”

Since UNC is also a very big basketball school, have you been following March Madness? If so, how far do you think your Tar Heels will go?
“I just got back from Russia late last night and I didn?t have internet service over there so I haven?t been keeping up to date with March Madness. However after seeing my boys play against Georgia Tech on my official visit a couple weeks ago I would have to say that I?m feeling confident that this is our year.”

Amber Brooks heads off to North Carolina with many accomplishments already, but so much more to accomplish. Will Amber help the Tar Heels win it all again in 2009? That will have to be seen to know the answer but all we can do is wish her the best of luck! Brooks has been gifted with something most people do not have either of, smarts and athleticism. She has been given the chance to go as far as anyone in her field. Good luck to Amber!

* We would like to thank Amber for the interview. All interviews are either done through Facebook or Email and are for REAL.

* Photo, courtesy of athletes.http://www.buckslocalsports.com/uploaded_images/Brooks-signing-723927.jpg

Amber Brooks with Her Parents & Coaches

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