Thursday, March 27, 2008

Nationals T-shirts -- For Sale

We have had enough time for the dust to clear and we have about $4,000 in t-shirts and sweatshirts that we would like to sell to get our budget even on the Showcase. It is our commitment to continue to find ways to make the National Tournament a better experience for all, when we do sometimes there are often cost that are not covered in Nationals budget. It is our commitment to not raise the cost to participate for teams or players or to charge a gate for family and friends. So we use try to cover cost through things like t-shirt sales and the pizza party. We have had a couple dozen e-mails from players who want to buy shirts and that is great. But let me ask those of you who bought your shirts at Nationals, how about buying a shirt for a gift and to support Nationals at the same time. I am in Arizona right now with my in laws and over the last few days they have worn basketball (Nationals and Storm t-shirts) from past years that we have given them. They really like the shirts and I am sure your Grandparents, parents, older siblings who used to attend Nationals before they graduated, younger siblings who couldn’t attend Nationals, friends and so many others would love a Nationals t-shirt or sweat shirt. Oh yeah and if I haven’t been clear we really would appreciate your support. Here is what we have available:

2008 Nationals Design
Short Sleeve $12
Black – all sizes
Grey (Med and large only)

Long sleeve t-shirts $17
Black – all sizes

Hooded -- youth $20 adult $30
Grey – all sizes except 2XL, 3XL

Water bottles $3
Navy Lanyard $2
Basketball (full size only) $10

2008 Show Case Design
Baseball style -- $20 with your name and number printed

Short Sleeve T-shirts White, Red or Blue all Sizes $15

Shipping is $6 per order and if your order—no matter how many items you buy.

Special Offer if your order is more than $30 we will send you a free Showcase T-shirt –Please tell us the size and color for your free showcase t-shirt.

Checks payable to NCHBC, 7631 NW 192nd St, Edmond OK 73003

Sunday, March 16, 2008

New York Times

Wow -- what an amazing week. The showcase was a huge success in many ways, the most immediate, in terms of seeing a difference, was the media attention. For years we have tried to gte the Daily Oklahoman to give us more coverage. Early in the week they will usually do an article or two but this year we were able to get the to attend the Showcase and after that they assigned a different reporter to the tournament for each day. This was Sunday's http://newsok.com/article/3216859/1205653085

Below are the links to the New York Times article and slide show.

They also put together a slide show that is really good.

SPORTS March 16, 2008 Growing Cheers for the Home-Schooled Team By JOE DRAPE

I will follow up with some more post after I get my feet on the ground.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Award Ceremony Times

I want to clarify the schedule for today at the Sawyer Center.

The Girls Varisty Championship Game will start at 3:00

The Game will last 1:05-1:15 Minutes. We will set the clock for 15 minutes after the floor is cleared and to give a chance for players to get in the right section. I would estimate the Ceremony will start at 4:20-4:30.

If you don't have a game it would try to be there by 3:30 so that those who are running from games will have less confusion getting in to the Sawyer Center.

Based on the above

Boys Varsity will kick off at 5:15-5:30

Second Awards at 6:45-7:00

Sleep Fast,

TF

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Showcase – Game Schedule Change

From the comments I heard I think the showcase was a huge success. It may have been one of the most enjoyable evenings I have ever experienced at Nationals. I would like to ask you to do two things for me if you enjoyed the Showcase.

1) Thank Rick Malone and Rob Flatt – those guys really do all the behind the scenes stuff and it would never happen without them. Sometimes people don’t realize the impact of those two because of the fact that Rick has done it for 6 or 7 years now and it runs so smooth. Then Rob is a “Flatt” so people assume he just has to do it, but I can tell you almost all the ideas for tonight came from him. He just loves Nationals and homeschool basketball and is always looking for a way to make it better for the players.

2) Buy our showcase t-shirts on Saturday, we really need to sell them to help pay for Showcase. This is a chance for you all to vote with your wallet to make sure we are able to bring the Showcase back for 2009. I think that it was entertaining enough to support it with a $15 purchase. That’s a pretty inexpensive evening for a family for three hours, don’t you think?

Game change Boys 18U 3A some games on Thursday are scheduled on court 19 but it should be 18. I think that is right but I can’t remember exactly it could be the other way around. The bottom line is if you were in 19 it is now 18 or vice versa. I so tired I can’t remember. Call the score hotline in the morning if you are in B18 3A and I confused you.

I am going to bed and will try to get up and answer e-mails and return phone calls buy 11:00 AM. Although last time I thought I was going to do that (yesterday) I slept 4 hours and woke up with things on my mind. I really can’t afford to do that again.
Tim Flatt

Quick Notes

Things seemed to go well for the first full day of games.

The Showcase will start promptly at 7:00 (if the the Lord doesn't come and the creek doesn't rise). The event will be 3 hours. The schedule is:
The opening ceremony 40-45 minutes
The All-American Games 1:20
Three Point and Slam Dunk Contest 45-50 Minutes

All-Americans and Honorable Mentions we will reserve a special section for you on the ground level be there at 6:45 sharp.

Pizza Party -- we will have pizza available immediately after the opening ceremony section. We will have an extra 100 or so pizzas ordered so if you didn't get your tciket just come to the booth and we may have some available.

Be Enthusistic

Honorable Mention Update

Last week my computer crashed and some of the info I have had trouble recreating. One of the items was the All-American Honorable Mentions. I found a number of players I left off the list tonight when I was getting things together for tomorrow night. I have added the players to the list below (the orignal post). I am sooooo sorry for the mistake.

Monday, March 10, 2008

Daily Update

Programs are in at the convention center.

Honorable Mentions listed below.

Pizza Party Tickets still available at convention center.

See you at the games.

Girls Honorable Mention

Allison Mounts Tulsa NOAH
Danielle O'Donnell N Atlanta Flight
Emily Bush SCWC Knights
Eva Dedow Austin Royals
Hannah Terry Fayettville Knights
Jenna Davis Metro Mavaricks
Jenny Beaman SWMO Eagles
Jenny Myer SCWC Knights (WI)
Jessica Karraker KC East Loins
Kelly Arps N. Atlanta Flight
Kelly Sargent WCHSW (WI)
Keersten Anderson KC East Loins
Kristen Huff HCYA
Lauren Netzel CHSA (TX)
Mallory Lane Metro Mavaricks
Melisa Naylor OKC Storm
Raven Phillips MHEA Eagles
Rebecca DeRidder MHEA Eagles (TN)
Sarah Blair HSAA (TX)
Sarah Bradford OKC Storm
Terra Hicks SWMO Eagles
Trina Lloyd Huntington Eagles (IN)
Trish Sontag CHSA (TX)
Whitney Hill KC East Loins

Boys Honorable Mention

Andrew Paterson Christian Heritage (CA)
Aundre Carnegie Lansing Crusaders
Ben Barnes MHEA Eagles
Ben Lawerence Faulkner County (AR)
Ben Lowe Lansing Crusaders
Bobby Strandt SWCHA Saints
Brandon Power AAHE Ealges
Brinks Brewster KC East Loins
Dan Pelletier Summit (MI)
Daniel McColloch WCHSA Royal Eagles (WI)
David Collins Austin Royals
Ebo Pinneau Crown Knights
Eli Horvorka Lakeshore Thunder
Elijiah Carbagal Valencia Wildcats
Eric Pfenning SWCHA Saints
Ethan Leatherman Noble/Whitley Warriors
Evan Justus OKC Knights
Frank Carter Zion Saints (TX)
Grant Wgram Wichita Defenders
Ian Ransdell Chicago Thunder
J.J. Attaway KC East Lions
James Parks Faulkner County (AR)
Jared Hemsoth Fort Wayne Gaurd
Jarrod Dinardo Dallas Thunder
Jeff Brooks HSAA
Joey Pattavina Omaha Lightning
Jon Allen BVCHEA Mustangs (TX)
Jordon Brewer San Marcos Panthers
Jordan Schnieder WCHSA Royal Eagles (WI)
Josh Lucas Thorndale TCA (TX)
Josiah George North Atlanta Flight
Khiry Belcher Zion Saints (TX)
Matt Decker CHSA
Matthew Ortega Valencia Wildcats
Matthew Carmona SATCH
Michael Ozmun Omaha Lightning
Milo Kostov Landmark Eagles
Paul Marchbanks Dallas Thunder
Preston Spicer OKC Storm
Rhett Rowan Austin Royals
Ryan Boggs Nashville Warriors
Sam Haynes San Marcos Panthers
Scott Pfenning SWCHA Saints
Shawn Michelson Derby Invasion
Tanner Bruffey Lubbock Warriors
Tanner McNeil KC North Knights
Tyler Koepke WCHSA Royal Eagles
William Martin Comer Crown Knights
Zach Bryant OKC Knights

Sunday, March 09, 2008

Show Time

Welcome to Oklahoma City

It looks like great weather this week 60-70’s during the day and a nice crisp mid 30’s at night. We plan the schedule, God plans the weather.

Teams have begun arriving and 300 teams either in town or on the way to town it looks to be a FANTASTIC week of basketball.

Player Registration, Coach Registration and t-shirt pick up and sales will open at 9:00 AM Monday. Programs are delayed at the printer and will not be ready until late Monday early Tuesday, I will post when they are ready and we will have them at the Showcase for pick up.

Team USA Registration opens at 10:00.

Check out the special personalized t-shirts design to commemorate the 1st Annual National Tournament Showcase. This year it was too late to get a sponsor for the Showcase so we designed the shirts as a way to help offset the $12,000 extra cost to run this Showcase. We hope you will like the shirts and lend a helping hand by purchasing one.

All registration is open until 9:00 PM.

There are meetings for:
Team USA Noon (16/18) 9:00 (10/12/14)
Coaches Meetings --11:00, 3:00 (16/18 pick one) 9:45PM (10/12/14)
All American and their coach – 10:30 PM

We look forward to seeing all of you,
Tim Flatt

Saturday, March 08, 2008

Final Touches -- Urgent Need

We are putting on the final touches before we start the set up tomorrow. If you’re staying close to the Clarion Convention Center tomorrow and have nothing to do from 2:00-6:00 stop by and we will put you to work for an hour or so.

There is no registration or pick until Monday morning.

Urgent need – I was just working on Team USA and I only have six 11 and 12 year old girls signed up. We need to make two teams or no teams for the brackets to work so we really need four more girls to sign up or these little girls are not going to be able to play. Can you help out these girls by letting your daughter play? E-mail nationals@flattmail.com if you can help.

Friday, March 07, 2008

Schedule Changes

Awards Ceremony time change – the first award ceremony originally scheduled for 3:00 on Saturday has been pushed back to 4:15 in order to give a chance for all other games to end and avoid parents missing the awards ceremony for younger children.

Team USA -the second team USA Meeting for 10, 12 and 14 will be pushed back to 9:00 (originally 8:30)

The third coaches meetings will be moved back to 9:45 (originally 9:15)

These changes are to accommodate overlap with games on Monday.

Nationals Three Days Out –Yikes

Ready or not Nationals is just about here. I would like to take a minute of your time to go over some important details for you that will make your arrival go more smoothly. PLEASE READ all of this letter.

Registration – If you have not pre-registered you will need to register before you play your first game. Registration is at the Convention Center. It is the star on the map; I would recommend printing a couple copies of the map before you leave home. Map link is in the Tuesday March 4th post below. Registration is open Monday 9AM-8PM and Tuesday 9:00 AM-Noon.

T-shirts – are available at the convention center from 9:00 AM-8:00 PM Monday and Tuesday. If you preorder you must pick up your shirts by Tuesday 8:00 PM. If you haven’t preordered keep in mind every year we sell out of 95% of all sizes, colors and styles. To avoid disappointment please make sure you get there as soon as practically possible.

Pizza Party – This year the Pizza Party will be held in conjunction with the Showcase Wednesday Evening. You can purchase Pizza Party tickets good for one large one topping Pizza Hut pizza for $10. The pizzas will be delivered to the Sawyer Center every 20 minutes starting at 7:15. I highly recommend getting your tickets early because we have a limit to how many pizzas Pizza Hut can deliver. Trust me when people bring their pizza in to eat while watching the game it is going to smell great and there are no other concessions available at the Sawyer Center that night. This is truly a “snooze you loose sale”.

Showcase – Two items here:

1) The showcase will start at 7:00 and conclude around 10:00 the schedule is packed and it should be great fun. Make sure to cheer and show your enthusiasm as we will have lots of media (including the New York Times and a freelance writer for ESPN) as well as local media and the college scouts, let’s make a lasting impression.
2) Support the showcase, by the time we decided to do the Showcase this year it was too late to secure a sponsor. So we decided to design a great t-shirt that will be available at the showcase to help cover the extra $12,000 in expenses. All we ask is if you love the t-shirt buy one.
This Blog will be your connection to changes and important information during Nationals, I recommend that you assign someone from your program to check it late at night and someone else to check it first thing in the morning.
Girls 12 – The brackets posted earlier were not correct we still need 5 more 12U Team USA girls to complete the brackets so I will be posting TBA on where teams advance until we know for sure and that might not be until late Tuesday evening so hang in there we will get it posted as soon as we know.

New Record – We have 300 teams this year which breaks last year’s record of 296
Warm-up Basketballs – each team is responsible for your own warm-up basketballs and should have a game quality ball as home team will provide a basketball. Team USA players bring your basketballs.

Team Banners are required for teams that want to be represented in the Flag Procession at the Showcase. Details will be provided in the Coaches Meetings.

Brackets will be final by 11:59 tonight.

Plenty more to follow ......

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Important Meetings on Monday

There are 3 coaches meetings on Monday – Attendance is mandatory at one of the meetings. All meeting are at the ballroom on the east side of the convention center.

11:00AM Coaches Meeting --Ages 16/18

12:00 Team USA – ages 16/18 for players and coaches

3:00PM Coaches Meeting -- 18(under) coaches that miss first meeting do to travel

8:30PM Team USA -- ages 10/12/14 for players and coaches

9:15PM Coaches Meeting 10/12/14

10:30PM All-American meeting

Coaches make sure you keep an eye on the coaches’ blog. If you don’t have the URL get a hold of Rob or Tim and they will get you the information.

Monday, March 03, 2008

2007-2008 Girl's All-Americans

The following is a list of the 2007-2008 NCHBC All-Americans. They are listed in Alphabetical order. Players were selected and voted on by a panel of 24 coaches from a crossed the nation.

1st, 2nd and 3rd team designations will be announced in OKC.

Honorable Mention will be announced at the Showcase on Wednesday evening.
Abigayle Banda Austin Royals
Alana Chung HCYA (TX)
Andrea Ratzlaff Tulsa NOAH
Anna Davis Landmark Eagles
Anna Parish THESA (TX)
Brittany Holmes MHEA Eagles (TN)
Chloe Farmer OKC Storm
Elizabeth Arnold FEAST
Elizabeth Shrader Knoxville Ambassadors
Emily Frazier HCYA (TX)
Heather Bechtold HSAA (TX)
Holly Burt THESA (TX)
Hope Petersen THESA
Janell Beacham HSAA (TX)
Jasmin Wright Cincinnati Trailblazers
Jessica Lane N. Atlanta Flight
Kylie Williamson SWMO Eagles
Lauren Parks OKC Storm
Lydia Joiner Knoxville Ambassadors
Macy Walquist Central MO
Molly Brewster KC East Lions
Rebecca Daniels Huntington Eagles (IN)
Sarah McLeod HCYA (TX)
Shaylon Martinez THESA
Stacy MammelFEAST
Taber Spani KC Metro Mavs
Taly Balciunas CHSA (TX)
Tanis Spani KC Metro Mavs
Whitney Schwab KC Metro Mavs
Whitney Williams THESA (TX)

2007-20008 Boy's All-Americans

The following is a list of the 2007-2008 NCHBC All-Americans. They are listed in Alphabetical order. Players were selected and voted on by a panel of 24 coaches from acrossed the nation.

1st, 2nd and 3rd team designations will be announced in OKC.

Honorable Mention will be announced at the Showcase on Wednesday evening.

Aaron Hendrix CHSA Wolverines
Aaron Krejci OKC Storm
Aaron Lewis Lakeshore Thunder
Aaron Santlemann OKC Storm
Alex Nelson Iowa Chargers
Andrew Daniels Huntington Eagles
Ben Kirby Stillwater Trinity
Caleb Bucher KC Metro Mavs
Colin Featherston Huntington Eagles
Daniel Crouse Butternut
Daniel Kelly Nashville Warriors
David Glenn Omaha Roadrunners
Eric Hamilton St Johns (MI)
Eric Head Landmark Eagles
Evan Zieschany HCYA
Ian Corella Christian Heritage (CA)
James McDonald HCYA
James Swearingin AAHE Eagles
Jarell English Dallas Thunder
Jarett Boss Tulsa NOAH
Jedidiah Landis MCE
Jesse Sanders HCYA
Joel Morris Crestwood Calvalry (IL)
John-Caleb Sanders HCYA
Jordan Martin HSAA (TX)
Josh Brown MHEA Eagles
Josh Decker HCYA
Josiah Ludwick Chicago Thunder
Justin Johnson Tulsa NOAH
Kelvin Bailey Zion Saints (TX)
Kyle Williams St Johns (MI)
Mark Walton SATCH
Nate Santlemann OKC Storm
Peter Jackson Landmark Eagles
R.J. Hallebach Illinois Crusaders
Rex Farmer OKC Storm
Sakari Clow Knoxville Ambassadors
Spencer Hoelscher BVCHEA Mustangs (TX)
Tyler Piercefield Lansing Crusaders
Willis Norman North Atlanta Flight

Sunday, March 02, 2008

Update - One Week Out

There is a lot of information that we will be finalizing of the next 72 hours. As soon as the following items are finished we will make a post here:

1) Gym Map – we will be using 25 gyms we have contracts on 24 and as soon as we have the last one the map will be completed.
2) Final Schedule for the week
3) All-American list for the game on Wednesday.
4) Updated Team Rosters
5) Brackets for all ages divisions
6) Team USA – team list