Week #2 of the "live period" saw tournaments all over the Southeast with coaches making their way from Augusta to Atlanta to Louisville and several stops in between.
In Atlanta the Summer Slam II event had a nice taste of Tennessee with several teams winning the championships in their various brackets and age groupings.
Team Nashville 17s
Team Nashville emerged victorious in their bracket finishing 3-0 starting with a 47-38 win over the Showtime Ballerz. A balanced scoring affair with no one getting to double digits. Chad Culbreath (Ripley) and Ladarious Chester (Florida) finished with 8 points each.
James McPherson (Brentwood) was the hot man as Team Nashville moved to 2-0 with a 71-48 trouncing of the Southern Stampede. Anthony Ramsey (Pearl Cohn) also finished with 15 in the win. Jy'lan Washington (Stewart's Creek) finished with 9 points in the win.
Culbreath managed 10 points as Team Nashville concluded the event at 3-0 with a 56-41 win over Elite Sportscenter. Yalen Reed (Station Camp) finished with 7 points.
Coaches were quick to applaud the efforts of McPherson who played his best event of the summer. Kevonta Davis (Hillsboro) and Washington did most of their work inside while guard play was hot with Culbreath, Ramsey and Leon Howard (Nashville Overton) leading the way.
Team Nashville heads to Louisville for the AAU 17 and under Nationals.
Memphis Hoopers 17s
That other team from the Bluff City had themselves a nice time in Atlanta winning their respective bracket and bringing home a championship.
The Hoopers finished 3-0 behind the scoring exploits of Madarius Lee (Memphis East), who averaged 23 per game during the event. Toriano Stokes (Westwood) had a nice event finishing with three double/doubles.
Contributions were heavy from the likes of Myles Littlejohn (Memphis Catholic), Chauncey Blakeney (BTW) and Kylan Phillips (Mitchell).
Nashville Celtics 17s
A rough start kept the Celtics from finishing the event unblemished but a surge after that first game left the impression that the remainder of the month would be hot for the Nashville crew.
After a slow start the Celtics made up ground in their first contest against Elite Sportscenter, tying the game late only to give up a three near the final buzzer losing 49-47. Jalen Duke (MLK) and Will Shelton (Hardin County) led the team in scoring.
Duke had the hot start in the second game coming out with 15 markers quickly before suffering an eye injury early in the second half. He would not return for the Celtics.
Without Duke the Celtics got inspired play from Shelton and Kyler Douglas (Haywood County), who both finished with 15 points as the Celtics rolled 75-45 over Next Level. Grant Teichmann (Brentwood) added 14 markers in the win while Ricky Dunnaway (Oakland) added 10.
In the final contest the Celtics dug deep after falling down by 13 in the first behind the inspired efforts of Shelton, who has truly risen his stock this summer. Its a shame if you have not seen him, make it a point.
Alex Clark (McCallie) who was a beast defensively the entire tournament anchored the resurgence with his effort. Teichmann started to connect on his shots and Douglas went on a scoring tear leading the Celtics to a big lead before the Showtime Ballerz went on a run to take a 1 point lead late.
Dunnaway would prove to be the go to guy with a twisting lay-in at the buzzer to preserve the 60-59 victory. The Celtics finished 2-1 on the weekend and will head to Louisville for the Super Showcase this weekend.
Team Nashville 15s
The youngsters out everything together this weekend and cruised to a 3-0 mark thus wining their respective bracket. Wins over the Atlanta Xpress in the semi-finals and Southern Stampede in the title game bode well for the Nashville brood.
Tavin Lovin (Kentucky) was the leader in the scoring department throughout the event including a personal takeover in the title game victory. Ruot Monyyong (Hunter's Lane) is gaining confidence right in front of our eyes finishing with three double/doubles on the weekend. He also managed to block six shots in consecutive games as well.
Inside Team Nashville got inspired effort from the duo of David Ivy (Blackman) and Jaellen White (Blackman), who played tough defensively and controlled the glass.
Mike Parker (Maplewood) and Donovan Sims (Blackman) divvied up the point guard duties with Parker providing more of a scoring threat, while Omar Lyons (Siegel) and Austin Fisher (Clarksville Academy) played well at the off-guard spots providing consistent scoring and perimeter defensive help. Lyons knocked down several clutch threes during the event. Fisher was at his best in the big game scoring from the perimeter to help Team Nashville snatch the crown.
Bryce Williams (Blackman) was lauded for his overall defensive effort.
Tennessee Chosen Few 15s
This Knoxville crew followed up a successful trip to the Peach state with another solid effort at the Summer Slam.
TCF got off to a fiery start nailing Atlanta Select Pro to the tune of 70-40 behind 10 and 8 from Ayden Gist (Alcoa).
Brendon Winton (Hardin Valley) and John Johnson (Harriman) finished with 7 and 6 markers respectively.
Luke Smith (Knoxville Catholic) made his presence felt with a solid 24 point effort but it was not enough as TCF fell to the Georgia Heat 79-48. Quincey Sibley (Karns) and JaQuez Johnson (Knoxville Central) added 7 and 6 points each.
Gist was the man with 21 points as TCF closed the event on the winning side of the ledger with a 44-43 triumph over the Alabama Flash. Smith added 9 markers in the win while Johnson was huge on the glass snatching 111 caroms.
