Back To School Showcase Results
Ron Bailey, Publisher
August 27, 2007 – This past weekend, Hoop Magic Sports Academy held its Back to School Showcase, a boys basketball travel team spectacular, with teams from up and down the eastern seaboard participating. Of course i95Ballerz.com was on hand for the festivities. The champions are featured below.
13 and under champs: Lee District
Coached by Tom Kirven, Lee District (Fairfax County, VA) defeated Team Columbia 80-53 to capture the Showcase’s 13 and under title. The game was hard fought, with both teams reserving nothing for later.
Tom Kirven (red shirt) and the Lee District 13 and under team.
Presumably with that in mind, Lee District’s coach, Tom Kirven, told his charges afterward “We have one more game to go”, with them responding affirmatively, yet in a fatigued manner. Kirven then slyly informed the young guys they had been pranked, to the youngsters’ joyous cheers. Joining the youth were many of their parents, who also fell for the gag.
14 and under champs: Team Melo
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Team Melo came from B'More grinding and taking names.
Team Melo (Baltimore, MD) steamrolled through playoff round play, with their 40-35 championship win over Hoop Magic (VA) their greatest test. As typical Team Melo teams do, they displayed organization and efficiency, consistently grinding foes by penetrating the ball via dribble or pass, boxing out, playing unselfishness, and defending: Everyone knew their role and stayed within it, hence their effectiveness.
15 and under champs: Triple Threat
In what was probably the most rollercoaster-like game of Sunday’s playoff round slate, Triple Threat (DC area) bested the Prince William Bulls (Virginia), 76-74, after falling behind 21-9 in the first half. As is typical of Triple Threat teams up and down the age spectrum, they displayed tenacious guard, making the comeback possible.
Early on, the Bulls, successfully fed sophomore forward Duvaughn Maxwell (17 points), while the team’s sophomore guards, including Demetrius Quarles (25 points) and Wynton Wilson (25 points) were able to quick hit on breaks and also score buckets in the half court buckets. The team’s ship was sailing smoothly.
Here stands Triple Threat's 15 and under squad, after their championship victory.
Then towards the end of the first half, Triple Threat started to employ a ¾ court press, causing their opponents major difficulty. Forward Hugh Roberts (17 points) along with guards Brandon Ford (13 points) and Cahli Thomas (8 points) – all freshmen - were instrumental in that defensive pressure, along with scoring subsequent baskets.
The trend continued in the second half, with Triple Treat tying the ball game around the 14:07 mark, and leading 60-52 around six and a half minutes later. Over the course of the next five minutes, the Bulls answered via a 16-9 scoring run of their own generated through scrappy play, and later would again come to within one point again on a Maxwell stick back.
But in the final anaylsis, Triple Threat’s guard play impacted the game, securing victory.