Finally a place where the internet is functional!!!!!!!!
Tons of action as the 2011 Hoosier Shootout finished up on Saturday with a lot of Tennessee teams proving they belong among the elite.
In the 17 and under division the Nashville Stars Elite behind Keilan Blanks (Spring Hill) advanced to the semi-finals of the Gold bracket.
The Tennessee Contenders finished in the final 8 of the Gold division falling to the Hidden Gems on Friday. Jack "The Natural" Montague (Brentwood) was the catalyst for the Contenders running the show and getting everyone involved in the action. Donya Burnett (Riverdale) knocked down a bushel of threes and created a mismatch at the guard spot with his strength. Cameron High (Lebanon) played strong inside controlling the glass and scoring easy buckets. Keshon Carter (Ensworth), Tyree Nightingale (East Literature) and Raj Bal (Centennial) all provided major contributions for the Contenders who head to Louisville for the Kentucky Hoopfest which tips today.
Action galore in the bronze division including a couple of showdowns between Tennessee squads, in the first bronze semi-final the Travelers defeated Team Swish 50-40 in a low scoring contest. Darryl Hicks (Kentucky) led the scoring with 10 markers. Jalen Lindsey (CPA) and Shannon Hale (North Carolina) each chipped in with 9 points respectively.
The win moved the Travelers into the bronze title game against the winner of the Tennessee Tigers vs. Mid-State Ballerz East semi-final battle.
Kyle Weldon (Rossview) got the Tigers out of the gate quick with a couple of scores and a back and forth affair culminated in a 28-26 halftime lead for the Tigers. Cody Malicoat (Jellico) and Rafeal Tyler (Lake County) converted buckets to start the half and the Ballerz seized a lead which would fluxuate for majority of the second half. Aaron "Wet Buckets" Wheeler (Morristown East) punctuated things with a nasty baseline slam and the Ballerz would go on to a 57-52 victory and a date with the Travelers in the bronze title game.
Recent Belmont commitment Caleb Chowbay (Mt. Juliet) led the Ballerz with 13 points followed by Tyler with 11 and John Ross Glover (USJ) with 10.
Braylen "Vitamin B" Bennett (Carter) had an outstanding game finishing with a game high 16 points. He was joined in the scoring column by Weldon who would finish with 12 and Jarvis Webster (Columbia Central) with 11 markers.
In the title game, the Ballerz came out on fire behind deep shooting from Tyler, Chowbay and Malicoat and forged a 45-34 halftime lead despite the scoring antics of Jaylen Allen (North Carolina), who would finish with 16 points for the Travelers.
Two quick scores out of the gate got the momentum back for the Travs but more of the same from Tyler as he roasted the twine for a game high 26 points including 3 three's and the Ballerz coasted to an 82-63 finale.
Glover was magnificent scoring off the dribble and flushing an alley-oop off a sweet pass from Tyler, he would end up with 14 markers. Wheeler and Chowbay would add 10 each.
Hicks led the Travelers with 18 points and Lindsey added 10 in the loss.
Both squads will head to Augusta for the Peach State Showcase which tips on the 12th.
