Suwanee Sports Academy - Suwanee, GA

After two days of tough high level competition the 2006 Adidas Showtime National Championships boiled down to 6 teams playing for championships in three 16U Divisions, the Open Division, the Select Division and the Elite Division.

Elite Division Championship

CY-Fair Shock 90 vs. Cincinnati’s Finest

(Houston, TX)                           (Cincinnati, OH)

Reported by Larry “L.A.” Williams - 4SHOT Hoops

There was some very good teams and individual talent playing in the Elite Division and to make it to the championship game was a feat in itself and then to have a game like the one CY-Fair Shock 90 and Cincinnati’s Finest but on was just icing on the cake for the fans and college coaches on hand.

Generally when you control the boards you control the game and early on Cy-Fair’s 6-2, Jr.-Nneka Ogwumike (Cy-Fair H.S., TX) was a beast on the glass as CY-Fair jumped out to a early lead. Cincinnati stayed close getting three-pointers from 6-1 Jr.-Amber Gray (Lakota West H.S., OH) and 5-11 Fr.-Brianna Sanders (Princeton H.S., OH); they also started getting some much needed help on the glass in the form of 6-2 Jr.-Jessica Pachko (Oak Hills H.S., OH).

Each time Cincinnati made a move Cy-Fair would go inside to Ogwumike or they would just kick the ball out to 5-9 Jr.-Jessica Lyons (Terry H.S., TX) who knocked down a pair of long three-pointers. Ogwumike finished off a big half when she stepped outside and drilled a three-pointer giving her 13-points as Cy-Fair took a 29-20 lead into the half. 

In the 2nd half Cincinnati tried to keep it close behind the play of Sanders, who continued to impress me with her play and the three-point shooting of 5-8 Jr.-Courtney Lumpkin (Winton Woods H.S., OH) but I think Cy-Fair’s power inside just started taking it’s toll.

While Ogwumike continued to dominate the paint teammate 5-8 Jr.-Ali Marzella (Katy Taylor H.S., TX) stepped up her game scoring three baskets as Cy-Fair went on to a convincing 63-48 win.

Scoring Recap

Cy-Fair:

Nneka Ogwumike scored a game high 30 points to pace Cy-Fair. Ali Marzella and Chelsea Johnson each added 8 points while teammates Jessica Lyons and Mansa El chipped in with 6 points each.

Cincinnati:

Brianna Sanders led Cincinnati with 14 points, Courtney Lumpkin finished with 12 points, Amber Gray had 8 points and Jessica Pachko chipped in with 6 points.

Select Division Championship

CBC “Next Level” vs. Memphis “Lady Elite”

(Washington, DC)                       (Memphis, TN)

Reported by Larry “L.A.” Williams - 4SHOT Hoops

There was no shortage of energy when CBC from Washington, DC and the Memphis “ Elite” hooked up for the Select Division Championship crown. 6-2, Fr.-Karisma Penn (Shaker Heights, OH) and 5-10, So.-Shay Selby (Regina H.S., OH) were the big guns for CBC in the 1st half scoring 14 and 10 points respectively. Memphis had a sluggish 1st half as they fell behind, Amy McNear scored 6 points for the “Elite” but they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the half.

Memphis really got after it in the second half, especially 5-8, 8^th Grader-Lauren Avant (Lausanne Collegiate MS, TN) who started taking the ball strong to the basket. 6-0, Fr.-Sarah Watkins (Houston H.S., TN) also picked up her game as Memphis cut the lead in half. Selby continued to play well for CBC but it wasn’t enough as Memphis tied the score.

Down the stretch McNear and Avant hit some big free-throws as Memphis completed a big comeback to knockoff CBC by a score of 55-53 to capture the Select Division Championship.

Scoring Recap

Memphis:

Lauren Avant scored 18 points to pace Memphis. Amy McNear and Sarah Watkins each finished with 12 points.

CBC:

Karisma Penn scored a game high 20 points to lead CBC and Shay Selby finished with 19 points.

Open Division Championship

Atlanta “Celtics” vs. Indiana Elite “Panthers”

(Atlanta, GA)                          (Indianapolis, IN)

Reported by Larry “L.A.” Williams - 4SHOT Hoops

The "Celtics" Carya Crosby goes in for 2 of her game high 19 points.

The “Celtics” continued playing a pressure, up tempo style game and it really started taking it’s toll on the “Panthers”; it also didn’t hurt their cause when 5-8 So.-Angelica Wilcox (Greater Atlanta Christian, GA), 5-8, Fr.-Jasmine Shaw (Darby, OH) and 5-8 So.-Tiffany Brown (Cartersville H.S., GA) each knocked down three-pointers as the “Celtics” opened up a 40-17 halftime lead.

In the 3rd quarter “Celtics” Head Coach Renardo Hudson had his team take the ball to the basket and the results paid off as they hit 8 free-throws and upped their lead to 54-24. The “Panthers” 5-11 Jr.-Erin Trimpe (Park Tudor H.S., IN) started finding her shooting touch in the 4th quarter knocking down a pair of three-pointers but it was too little too late as the Atlanta “Celtics” went on to capture the Open Division Championship by the score of 61-37.

Scoring Recap

Atlanta:
Carya Crosby scored a game high 19 points to lead all scorers, Jasmine Shaw finished with 15 points (2 three-pointers) and Shakara Rucker added 12 points.

Indiana Elite: 

Erin Trimpe scored 12 points to pace the “Lady Panthers” and Leann Douglas chipped in with 7 points.