The first week of the open live period ended on a real sweet note for the Nashville D13 Elite. A new itinerary moved the group from Indianapolis to Philadelphia where they would compete in the Reebok Challenge.
Action got underway quick and furious as D13 swooped to a 67-53 win over the New Jersey Select behind 16 and 10 from Keon Williams (Kentucky).
Jaylen Barford (Jackson Southside) continues his productive summer dropping 15 points in the opening game win. Marcus Graves (North Carolina) added 8 dimes in the win.
An easy win in game two followed with Barford leading the scoring brigade with 24 points followed by Daniel Norl (Kenwood) with 19 and Andy Schumpert (Brentwood) with 11 as D13 cruised past the Illinois Jets and into the final four of the event.
Barford was again the big gunner scoring 22 including 19 in the second half as D13 rallied to beep past the New Jersey Roadrunners 68-64 and set up a date in the title game against the JerseyShore.
Fatigue and a solid opponent spelled doom in the finale as D13 dropped a heartbreaker 68-67 to bring home the silver.
Barford led the way with 15 followed by Graves with 12.
A total team effort with contributions from everyone.
Makinda London (Summitt) was selected to the tourney all-star game for his efforts over the weekend.
Tennessee Panthers Leave Their Mark in Augusta
The Tennessee Panthers came away from the Peach State Classic all smiles as the Music City boys finished with a 6-1 record, winning their pool and rearing themselves up with an invite to the Gold Super Showcase Bracket in Orlando next week.
Terry Holt (East Nashville) began his hot weekend leading the scoring charge with 15 as the Panthers unplugged Team Power 56-44. Jacob McCullough (Hendersonville) added 12 and Kin Webster (Hillsboro) added 10.
Holt dropped 35 as the Panthers bested one of the many E1T1 crews to the tune of 65-37.
Holt followed that effort up with 28 as the Panthers roughed up the NW Georgia Select 73-48. McCullough chipped in with 18 and Webster gave up 11.
Holt became the focus of the opposing defenses and was held to 11 but others rose up as the Panthers posted a 69-59 victory over the South Carolina Kings. McCullough led the way with 19, Webster added 18 and Malik Harris (Maplewood) finished with 11.
A forfeit in the next game put the Panthers at 5-0 and atop their pool with advancement in sight to the Gold racket.
Sweet 16 action saw the Panthers, behind 27 from Holt, defeat the UnitedBasketballAcademy 68-54. Harris added 15 in the win to move the boys to 6-0 and a spot in the Elite Eight.
Holt did all he could tallying 25 but the Panthers would come up short 60-54. McCullough added 11 as the Panthers left several points at the foul line missing 11 key charity tosses down the stretch.
Coaches were quick to point out the vast contributions of Devin Pitts (Antioch), Charles Dunbar (Maplewood), Javontae Walden (East Nashville), Josh Brewer (Beech) and Darius Lewis (Hume-Fogg).
