The Nashville Celtics 16 and under group finished the July evaluation period on a huge high playing in two high quality events and proving they could compete on a high level.
The Great American Shootout in Texas saw the MusicCity boys finish 2-1 in pool play with wins over A-Game Athletes and BasketballUniversity. A balanced attack was credited with the success. Kyler Douglas (Haywood), Kenny Cooper (FRA) and Thomas Booker (East Nashville) played strong in the backcourt.
In the gold bracket the Celtics carved out a 71-38 win over F.I.R.M, followed by a 79-78 classic against the El Paso Heat.
63-37 read the scoreboard after the semi-final win over the Plano Raiders preceded a great effort with a 73-57 trouncing over the San Antonio Jay hawks for the Gold Bracket championship.
The final weekend of the "live" period took the Celtics down to the heart of hoops country in Fort Wayne Indiana for the Gym Rats Basketball Academy Nationals (GRBA).
Pool play got underway with a solid 85-75 win over the Michigan Titans. Jalen " Sir" Duke (MLK) led the scoring with 25 large followed closely by Douglas with 22. Will Shelton (Hardin County) added 18 and Ricky Dunnaway (Oakland) finished with 16.
The Spiece Gym Rats became victim #2 to the tune of 81-40 with Sir Duke leading the charge with 16.
The Celtics completed the unblemished pool play record with a 74-62 trouncing of the Rockford Wildcats. Douglas finished with 15 to lead the Celtics. Duke added 14 and Shelton dropped 13 in the victory.
Opening platinum bracket action saw the Celtics garner the victory with a steady 70-65 victory over Dorian's Pride. Duke was high man with 15 followed closely by Douglas with 14 and Shelton with a bakers dozen.
The King James Shooting Stars would be the next opponent and the Celtics fought hard taking the game into overtime on some clutch shooting from Shelton but fell to the national power to end their summer.
