Reported by Jabari “Klapp” Glapion – 4SHOT Hoops
 

After a blowout victory on day one, things were a little different for the GA Metros 15.  This go round, they were facing a Dream Team 16 squad looking to rebound off of a disappointing double-digit loss.  With the help of Jallisa Williams dropping in 19 points, the Dream Team 16 managed to pull away and never looked back.  Williams, who got seven of her 19 points from the free throw line, was a huge factor and made her presence known inside and out.

Dream Team 16 also received contributions from Kendra Berry, who finished with 14 points and Cierra Duhart, who finished with 13 points of her own.  Berry, who is out of Westover High School in Albany, GA, continued her well-rounded play from the previous day, while Duhart, who hails from Hawkinsville, GA, stepped up her game as well.  GA Metros did not go quietly with Kajuanna Rivers leading the way with 18 points.  The Southwest Dekalb High and Decatur, GA native showed her quickness and ability to score from anywhere on the court.  Unfortunately for the Metros, this one would not go their way.  After a valiant effort, they fell to the Dream Team, 66-54. 

Final Score:  Dream Team 16 66 – GA Metros 15U 54

Scoring Recap

Dream Team 16:  Jallisa Williams 19 points, Kendra Berry 14 points, Cierra Duhart 13 points, and Velicia Bell 10 points.

GA Metros 15U:  Kajuanna Rivers 18 points, Raven Fields and Temperance Jacobs each finished with 12 points.

Alabama Roadrunners vs. Essence

Reported by Rod "Kut" Freeman - 4SHOT Hoops  

The showdown between the Alabama Roadrunners versus Essence would be decided by a margin of 10 points. Even though Essence had 2 players in double figures, the Roadrunners would double that with 4 players. Team Essence would be led by 6’0 shooting guard Tiffany Hayes and 6’1 shooting guard April Sykes. Sykes would get the game on the way with a crossover dribble and a jumper. Teammate Hayes would play according following with a lay-up.

Then came the Roadrunners with the triple threat in Courtney Ward, Yvonne Anderson and Katie Hancock who all finished with 13 points each. Courtney Jones would control the paint for the Roadrunners and convert 8 free throws to contribute 12 points total. With final decision in her hand, Katie Hancock would drain a three-pointer and the Roadrunners would go ahead to win this one to advance to the next round.

Final Score: Alabama Roadrunners 68 - Essence 58

Scoring Recap

Alabama Roadrunners: Courtney Ward 13 points, Yvonne Anderson 13 points, Katie Hancock 13 points and Courtney Jones 12 points.

Essence: April Sykes 17 points, Tiffany Hayes 17 points and Chelsey Lee 9 points. 

Reported by Jabari “Klapp” Glapion – 4SHOT Hoops
 

The ladies of Essence lost a close on day one and day two had all the signs of redemption as they prepared to face a Lady Express team coming off of a 45-point loss.  Out of the gate, it was apparent that Essence wouldn’t have any problems in this one.  A balanced scoring attack led by 5’5 guard, Abril Peoples out of Americus-Sumter High School, who finished with 11 points, was surely enough to do away with an inferior Lady Essence squad. 

Jazmond Stringer led the Lady Express once again with six points, but with that being a team high, it would be hard for the Express to compete.  The relaxed play of Essence was a telltale sign that this one was in the bag.  The ladies hoisted 3’s without thought and mistakes were forgotten as soon as they happened.  With a 65-21 win though, I guess that’s alright. 

Final Score:  Essence 65 – Lady Express 21

Scoring Recap

Essence:  April Peoples 11 points, T. Wright nine points, Bianca Lutley and Jayme Warner each finished with eight points.

Lady Express:  Jazmond Stringer six points and Jodi Ann Ellison added five points.

Michigan Crossover eked out a nail-biter in day one action but today’s matchup would be nothing of the sort.  The GA Metros 14U squad can get an “A” for effort being the youngest team in the tournament but they were certainly outmanned and outplayed in this losing effort.  The flood gates opened early for the Crossover as they opened up the game on a solid run that would set the pace for the entire game.  Dominique Dixon, a 5’9 guard out of Detroit Renaissance, and Ratoria Jones, a 5’10 wing player out of Detroit M.L. King led the way for the Crossover with each player racking up 12 points.  The key player was the 6’2 center out of Toledo Central Catholic, Brianna Jones who finished with 10 points but was a beast on the boards, pulling down 11 boards.

The GA Metros were led by Quoston Crawley, who finished with a team high eight points.  The 5’7 point guard certainly has a lot of potential and tournaments such as this will definitely help her develop her game.  Another Metros player who made a solid contribution was a 5’10 forward out of The Lawrenceville School, Tyler Simpson.  Simpson finished with only seven points but showed some tenacity under the basket.  Ultimately, a blow out would ensue, however, with the Metros falling by more than 30 points. 

Final Score:  Michigan Crossover 57 – GA Metros 14U 23

Scoring Recap

Michigan Crossover:  Dominique Dixon and Ratoria Jones each with 12 points, Brianna Jones 10 points, Jalisa Jones finished with nine points.

GA Metros 14U:  Quoston Crawley led her team with eight points and Tyler Simpson finished with seven points.

GA/LINA 76ers vs. OGDL

Reported by Jabari “Klapp” Glapion - 4SHOT Hoops

This matchup had all the makings of being a solid, down-to-the-wire type of game with one team coming off a convincing 22-point win and the other boasting a nice come from behind stunner.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t.  Bailey Dewart, a 6’0 forward out of Dorman High in Spartanburg, SC, once again led her 76ers to an easy 20-point win.  Bailey put on yet another clinic dropping in 16 points from anywhere she wanted to.  The 76ers had a number of players who continued to play solid ball in day two action.  Kathryn Lyons continued her scrappy play and doubled her point total from the previous day to 14, while Katrina Goss matched that point total.  Goss is a 6’2 forward who is all height but is deceptively strong in the paint.  Of course Lyons was a replay of solid all-around play she displayed on day one.

OGDL got off to a slow start and never seemed to recover.  They were led by a trio of Narborne High School teammates out of Carson, CA, Gabrielle Clark, Reiko Thomas, and Ify Ibekwe.  Clark and Thomas each finished with 10 points with the 6’2 forward, Clark, doing her work on the inside and the 5’8 guard, Thomas, doing hers’ from the perimeter.  It was all for naught as the 76ers cruised to a 69-49 win. 

Final Score:  GA/LINA 76ers 69 – OGDL 49

Scoring Recap

GA/LINA 76ers:  Bailey Dewart 16 points, Kathryn Lyons and Katrina Goss each with 14 points, Whitney Wiley and Brittney Lebby each with 10 points.

OGDL:  Gabrielle Clark and Reiko Thomas with 10 points apiece.  Ify Ibekwe finished with eight points

Was it the tough loss to the Texas Express on Sunday night or the play of the Orlando “Comets” but either way the Georgia “Nike Elite” looked sluggish and uninspired as they fell behind early. The “Comets” behind the play of 5-5, Jr.-Brianna Smith, 5-11, Jr.-Jacky Nikic, 5-10, Fr.-Ashley Jones and 6-3, So.-Chandler McCabe did appear to be at all intimidated as they took the game right to the Elite and managed to take the lead into the half.

The “Nike Elite” came out in the 2nd half with a lot more fire, especially 5-10, Jr.-Brittany Carter and 6-2, So.-Tonia Williams. 6-4 So.-Lindsay Mason finally stepped up her game and played big inside as they start seizing control of the game. The energy of the “Nike Elite” reserves (5-10, Jr.-Emily Clark, 5-9, Jr.-Chioma Okoli, 5-3, So.-Myalshia Simms) was the real reason they ended up pulling away for the win.

Final Score: Georgia Nike Elite 61 - Orlando Comets Black 44

Scoring Recap

Georgia Nike Elite: Brittany Carter and Lindsay Mason led Nike Elite scoring 13 and 12 points respectively; teammates Tonia Williams added 8 points and Emily Clark finished with 7 points.

Orlando Comets: The “Comets” were paced by Jacky Nikic who scored 10 points. Ashley Jones added 9 points and Amanda Allen chipped in with 8 points.

All-Ohio Red vs. GA Metros 16U

Reported by Jabari “Klapp” Glapion - 4SHOT Hoops

In the second day of action, All-Ohio Red, coming off a 10-point win, faced off against the ladies of the GA Metros 16U squad.  The Metros were once again led by 5’7 guard, Brittany Kirkland, who once again, received little help from her teammates in yet another losing effort.  Kirkland, a junior out of Monroe High School, was the lone bright spot for the Metros as created her own shots and made things happen as much as she could.

All-Ohio followed up on their day one victory with another easy win.  Kendall Hackney, a 6’2 forward out of Cincinnati, OH, led the way for her Red squad with 12 points while pulling down five rebounds.  Hackney displayed a sweet stroke along with some hustle play under the basket.  Senior Kate Popovec played big in the paint and did her damage on the blocks and pulling down rebound after rebound.  All-Ohio was in total control from the opening team and cruised to an easy 21-point win.

Final Score:  All-Ohio Red 59 - GA Metros 16U 38

Scoring Recap

All-Ohio Red:  Kendall Hackney 12 points, Kate Popovec eight points, Amber Stokes and Jayne Cox each finished with six points.

GA Metros:  Brittany Kirkland finished with a team high 12 points.  Kiswanna Ross followed up with six points.

West Coast Elite vs. Tennessee Flight

Reported by Jabari “Klapp” Glapion - 4SHOT Hoops

After an impressive display of outside shooting in day one play, the Tennessee Flight looked to let fly against a West Coast Elite that appeared to be one of the top-tier teams in the tournament.  The going would definitely get tough for the Flight going up against a West Coast team that boasts two of the top players in the state of Texas in 6’1 senior, Stefanie Gilbreath, and 5’7 senior, Italee Lucas.

After raining three-pointers from anywhere on the floor in their first game, the Flight only managed to drop in three of them in a blowout loss to WCE.  West Coast came out the gate smoking as they opened up a double-digit lead early and never looked back.  Gilbreath finished with a game high 19 points getting off shots as she pleased.  The senior out of Cinco Ranch High School used her size advantage and shot over, around, and through the smaller Flight defenders.  Abby Andrews, a 5’10 guard, and Savannah Hill, a 6’2 junior, did what they could but were simply outmanned, outplayed, and outscored in this shellacking.

Final Score:  West Coast Elite 68 – Tennessee Flight 41

Scoring Recap

West Coast Elite:  Stefanie Gilbreath 19 points, Monique Oliver 12 points and four rebounds, and Kelsey Bone 10 points and six rebounds.

Tennessee Flight:  Abby Andrews and Savannah Hill each finished with nine points, while Hill added five boards. 

K.C. Select vs. Colorado Springs Stars Elite

Reported by Jabari “Klapp” Glapion - 4SHOT Hoops

The K.C. Select will have very little trouble in disposing of the Colorado Springs Stars in this lopsided matchup.  The Select would be led by Tyra White, who matched her previous day’s performance with a game high 23 points.  Morgan Boyd also made a solid contribution after a quiet day one showing, with 15 points. 

Alyssa Aldaz of the Colorado Springs Stars dropped in three three-pointers from deep, while Paige Ricker chipped in 10 points with her scrappy play around the basket, but it would be to no avail.  The Select jumped out early and before you knew it, the Select had a comfortable 20-lead.  As the Select continued to pour it on, the Colorado Springs Elite continued to look over matched in an easy for the K.C. Select.

Final Score:  K.C. Select 68 – Colorado Springs Stars Elite 40

Scoring Recap

K.C. Select:  Tyra White had a game high 23 points, Morgan Boyd chipped in 15, and Alisha Bell finished with nine points.

Colorado Springs Stars Elite:  Alyssa Aldaz finished with a team high 13 points and Paige Ricker followed up with 10 points.