A fiasco last night with no internet access caused me to delay the information for what's been going on at the 17 and under Nationals in Orlando. So now let me try to get everyone up to speed.
The Memphis YOMCA ran through pool play with a blur starting with a 68-50 win over FDD. Wayne Martin (Florida) was the big dog scoring 24 points and snatching 9 boards, rising sophomore Demetrius Dyson (Brighton) added 15 and Steven Kaspar (ECS) totaled 9 assists.
Pool play game 2 found the YOMCA on the winning end of a 71-65 decision behind 15 markers from Kaspar and 13 from Telvin Wilkerson (Melrose).
Tougher than anyone expected, the YOMCA slipped past Maine Gold 58-52 in a hard fought final pool finale. Dyson led the way with 15, Martavious Newby (Melrose) added 11 and rising sophomore Nick King (Memphis East) finished with 10.
Kedorian Sullivan (Southwind) has made his presence felt through the tourney and his 12 points and 9 boards lifted the YOMCA past the Shining Stars-Black 62-46 in opening round bracket action. Kaspar added 12 in the win.
Sullivan again showed his merit knocking down 14 points as the YOMCA remained unblemished with a 64-60 win over a scrappy Broward Bobcats squad. Martin added 12 points and Newby finished with 10 for the Y. Kadarrio Fleming (Ridgeway) did his work with 10 caroms and 8 points in the win.
Team Nashville finished their pool play 2 and 1 and took 2nd place. Andre Brown (Clarksville Northwest) did solid work in pool play action including a 26 point outburst. Isiah Harrison (Hillsboro) and Cedric Carroll (Riverdale) have played well inside while Jaleel Querry (Maplewood) did some of his best work in the Team Nashville opening round of bracket play victory over the South Jersey Jazz. Justin Perry (Nashville Overton) managed double digits in this one as well.
A sluggish start to their second bracket game against the big and powerful SYF Players was halted when the cavalry showed up, namely Corn Elder (Ensworth) and Devin Robinson (Ravenwood), the two youngster infused the energy the team needed to close the gap to three at the half before the sheer size of the Indiana opponent wore them down. Robinson finished with 18 points and Elder added 13 in the defeat.
Nick Ross (Red Bank) has done his best filling up the hoop as the Chattanooga Steam finished their pool play action 1-2. Travis Core (Georgia) and Kelvin Clay (Red Bank) have played well.
Kendall Anthony (Liberty Tech) is at it again. The Nashville Celtics stalwart decided not to end his fantastic summer and is playing with the Nashville Elite Stars in Orlando. The Jackson phenom has been nothing short of spectacular scoring in bunches including 30+ in one of the pool play victories. The Elite finished at 2-1 in pool play. Lonnie McClanahan (Oak Ridge) has also drawn some interest from the coaches with his play thus far. Darryl Clack (Maplewood) and Devanta Hamlet (Columbia Central) played well in the games I was able to attend.
The Mid-State Ballerz were dealt a very difficult pool assignment and concluded action this afternoon. Jacob Lloyd (Westview) had a solid tourney including a big 26 point game in pool play. Ryan Yeates (Liberty Tech) and Oscar Butler (Siegel) played well for the Ballerz.
Kedren Johnson (Marshall County), who runs with the Georgia Stars, has made quite an impact at the Nationals with his play. Coaches from the SEC, Big East, ACC and Big Ten were in attendance at his bracket game this evening.
