Senior Robert Reed finished his junior wheelchair basketball career on a high note in Denver last April, scoring 114 of the Suns' total 183 points for their 4 games of the National Junior Invitational Tournament.
"Robby," as he is known by his teammates, led the team to their best finish yet in the national tournament, ninth overall, scoring an average of 28 points per game with assistance from starters Paul Rodriguez, also a senior, Stephen Binning, Joe Underwood, Rachel Kroener and, in the last game of their high school career, Adam Phillips.
For the first time in the '09-'10 season, the league determined which teams played varsity and which played the Junior Invitational Tournament (formerly junior varsity) from among all teams playing on the 10 foot baskets. The Suns were ranked 25th among the 53 ten-foot teams, giving them the 9th seed in the invitational tournament. The Junior Banner Wheelchair Suns are jointly sponsored by Arizona Disabled Sports and Banner Wheelchair Suns/Mercury.
For the first match up, early on Thursday morning, the first day of the tournament, the Suns faced RHI, the 8th seed, who went on to take second place in the tournament. The team from Indianapolis proved too much for the Suns, even with Reed's 24 points, having them down by 11 at the half and going on to take the game 58 to 37. Underwood contributed 5 points, including a late 2nd half three pointer, Binning had two baskets in the first half and Rodriguez and Phillips added two points each.
Later that day, the Suns took their revenge on the Milwaukee Heat. Trailing 27 to 6 at the half, the Suns came back to win the game 48 to 37 behind Reed's 32 points before he fouled out late in the 2nd half. Underwood contributed 8 points and 11 assists and Binning added another 6 points and 3 assists. Kroener rounded out the total with one basket.
Friday the Suns drew the early game again, this time facing the Grand Rapids Pacers and leading the whole way behind Reed's 28 points. Rodriguez and Underwood each contributed 6 points to the effort with 4 for Binning. Reed was credited with a single assist as was Rodriguez; Binning had 6 and Underwood 7.
For their final game on Friday afternoon, the Suns took on another Indiana team, the Hammond Hoosiers, the team they lost to in their first game of their first national tournament in 2008. This time the Suns came out swinging, leading 30 to 22 at the half and controlling the play through the second half to win 54 to 43 and cinch the top spot in the consolation bracket. Reed again led the scoring with 30, Underwood was the only other play in the double figures with 14, Binning had 6 and Rodriguez and Kroener 2 each.
Contributing off the bench to the three wins were Robert Knight, Zach Strichek, Gabe Gadson and Danny Perrone, who was named to the Second Team all tournament team for his efforts.
After their final win was in the books, the team celebrated with pizza and wings and a salute to the three graduating seniors, Reed, Rodriguez and Phillips, who are leaving the team after this season.
