Pool play action at the AAU 17 and under Super Showcase proved tough for a group of our Tennessee brethren.
The Tennessee Travelers played hard and tough keeping themselves in all three of their pool games before falling at the end. Playing in the Gold Bracket the Travs faced some ultra still competition.
Galen Campbell (Fulton) and Tres Palmer (Powell) were lauded for their efforts in Orlando.
The Knoxville Panthers were in each of their games as well starting with a tough 67-52 defeat at the hands of Team Stat. Cory Billingsley (Sweetwater) led the scoring brigade with 18 markers. Dustin Clarke (North Carolina) added 10 points.
Jose Agosto (Gatlinburg-Pittman) led the charge with 18 points and 11 boards as the Panthers won their pool contest. Jaeland Lawson (Fulton) added 13 points while Nathaniel Hughes (Hampton) chipped in with 12. Skylar Brown (Seymour) was big on the boards in the win.
The Panthers fell to the Columbia Hoyas 87-80 then in a very tough contest fell to Team Truth 67-63 despite 23 points from Morrease "The Butcher" Barber (Gatlinburg-Pittman). Billingsley added 15 and Lawson chipped in with 11 points. Darius Gallaher (Harriman) was lauded for his defensive effort.
The Memphis YOMCA, also playing in the Gold Bracket, dropped their three pool play games in dramatic fashion with some last second heroics.
Steven Kaspar (ECS) drained a three with .3 on the clock to send the game into overtime before falling to Houston Hoops 85-73. Telvin Wilkerson (Melrose) led with 19 points followed by Martavious Newby (Melrose) with 14, Kaspar with 12 and Wayne Martin (Florida) with 11 points.
Leading 29-19 at the half the YOMCA had the misfortune of receiving a heavy dose of Austin Rivers, who finished with 32 points, helping his squad past the Y 68-59. Newby was the hot man with 16 points and 9 rebounds.
Kaspar hit 6 of 8 from deep finishing with 18 points but a last second shot from the Connecticut Basketball Club ended the tourney for the YOMCA 62-59. Joining Kaspar in the scoring column was Kedorian Sullivan (Southwind) with 11 and Newby with 10.
In the 16 and under Super Showcase the Tennessee Tigers fought hard but couldn't overcome some late game heroics from their opponents. Ross Welch (DCA) and Casey Smith (Morristown East) continued their solid efforts. Jarvis Webster (Columbia Central) came on very strong at the end of the tourney and Danny McGrath (Brentwood Academy) was solid according to sources.
