DC Metro Showcase’s Championship Day Doesn’t Disappoint
Ron Bailey, Publisher
17-Under Title – Triple Threat Orange 66 Team Underrated 61
In the DC Metro Showcase’s highlight event, a talented and seasoned Triple Threat Orange (D.C. area) team bested the game yet undermanned Team Underrated (New York area primarily). Despite boasting a deep bench, and developing double digit leads, Team Underrated kept fighting and narrowing the score.
“It was a tough game” said one of the Triple Threat’s coaches, Steve Gerald. “They (his opponents) are good, and played hard”.
That would include Underrated’s Quincy Haukins (20 points) - who showed good outside shooting range and ball handling for a big man – powerful and aggressive shooting guard Chauncey Gilliam (12 points), and dead eye shooter Kevin Walsh (16 points).
Triple Threat Orange 17-under squad.
Triple Threat, a guard-oriented team including standouts Mo Creek (15 points), Jason Clark (10 points) and Garvey Young (10 points) – all willing and able to not only shoot from the perimeter, but get to the rim and fill lanes – benefited from all three, while also getting a solid performance for forward/center Chris Braswell (12 points).
But According to Gerald, a second half defensive strategy shift might have helped seal the victory. “We were pressing the whole first half, but we were having problems getting back” on defense if the press didn’t produce turnovers, he admitted. Resultantly, Underrated enjoyed too many easy baskets.
Following a suggestion from fellow coach Kingston Price, Triple Threat discarded the press, choosing to focus on good, solid, half court defense instead.
That, in addition to the aforementioned guards, who seemed to spread out offensively via 3-2 high and similar formations, had a deleterious effect on Underrated late in the game (they only had six guys dressed to play).
“I thought they were going to fold” opined Price, who later shared his team’s backcourt would have a similar effect on future foes. “Basically, our guards should be able to play with any guards in the country”.
So concludes the first DC Metro Showcase. Not only did the tourney present an opportunity, as Triple Threat’s Gerald noted, to work out the kinks in his team despite not being “full strength”, but also for allowed squads to face different competition as well, a point the Westchester Hawk’s Graves made.
When you add the excellent administration of the Hoop Magic Sports Academy staff, and there is no wonder the DC Metro Showcase was a success.
Be there next year.
All Tourney teams coming to i95Ballerz.com soon.