Inside Prep Sports' Border
By TJ Kelley
The 15u Gold Championship between All-Ohio Red and Team
Pride should set the template for all championship games; overtime, top level
talent, and a game-winning buzzer beating jumper by 5’10 2012 point guard
Jordan Potts. All-Ohio Red’s 6’8 power
forward Elijah Macon scored 19 in the game and drew the attention of Team
Pride’s interior defense. On the other
side of the ball, Team Pride’s 5’10 2013 guard Dorian Dawkins is one of his
class’ best and scored in a variety of ways while leading all-scorers with
23. 6’7 2012 forward Ken Kaminski is an
The 16u Gold Semi-final Common Bond- Barnes vs. West Virginia Renegades was a game that snuck under the radar despite the importance of the game and both are teams that will gather plenty of college looks when July rolls around. While the Renegades have at least one mid-major plus to high major player in, 6’4 2011 guard Pierria Henry, Common Bond-Barnes have a few division one players, ie. 6’4 2011 guard AJ Mathew, as well but rely on the group to win games. This was the case Sunday afternoon as both teams tussled and the lead was never stretched by more than six points before CB-Barnes advanced with a 59-53 victory.
A 16u Gold Semi-final Friends 4 Life vs. Michigan Mustangs wasn't a nail biter in reference to the score but two of the best rising juniors, Friends 4 Life's 6'8 2011 small forward Anton “Silk” Grady and the Mustangs' 6'5 2011 small forward Ladontae “Buckets” Henton, in the tournament went head to head and the game drew quite a crowd.. Grady was the best player in the tournament regardless of level and is a stat filler who scored 19 points in the game and grabbed double digit rebounds while dropping a handful of dimes. Henton led all-scorers with 36 (26 in the second half) and pulled down close to 25-rebounds in the 68-64 loss to the eventual 16u gold tournament champion.
The last game of Saturday night's action at the University of Toledo's rec center featured Friends 4 Life and Courthouse Kings- White in a 16u skirmish that came down to the wire. Both teams had balanced scoring as 6’ 2011 guard Delbert Love led Friends 4 Life with fifteen and 6’6 2011 forward Ben Lanning led the Courthouse Kings with eighteen while taking on the daunting task of guarding Grady. Lanning showed range by knocking down a trio of three-pointers but the Kings biggest three-pointer was by 6’3 2011 guard Ryan Sabin. Sabin’s three moved the Kings to a two-point deficit with three-seconds on the clock and he was fouled on the make. He intentionally missed the continuation and the rebound went through a number of hands before Friends 4 Life secured the possession and a 67-65 win.
The comeback of the W. MI. Lakers in a Friday night 17u pool play game versus the Ohio Basketball Club was one of fortitude and perseverance. The Lakers were down 36-11 at the half and the running clock rule was in effect putting their backs further against the wall. The O.B.C.’s woeful free-throwing shooting proved detrimental as the Lakers were able to chip away at a once insurmountable lead and snuck away with a two-point victory in a Friday night pool play game. The O.B.C.’s 6’3 2010 guard Noah Cottrill had the hot hand in the first half while 6’1 2010 guard Nick Kellogg provided additional support. The W. MI. Lakers’ comeback was a group effort led by 6’7 2010 forwards Austin Semple and Jake Plite.