When you get down to the Final Four in any tournament you can expect everybody to put out 110% and when the Alabama Road Runners and GA/Lina 76ers hooked up in the first semi-final game in the Unlimited Division that’s what you got. With the fans and college coaches all jacked up to see how the top teams matched up in a playoff type atmosphere the players went to work.

The game got off to a fast start as the teams took turns trading baskets back and forth. The “76ers” needed and got big performances from 6-0 Jr.-Bailey Dewart, 5-9 Jr.-Whitney Wiley and 6-2 Jr.-Katrina Goss who did a great job of battling the “Road Runners” tough front line.

Alabama has some of the best guards in the tournament in 5-6 Jr.-Courtney Ward, 5-6 So.-Yvonne Anderson, 5-6 Ruth Ketchum and 5-6 Jr.-Kayla Melson and when they started applying pressure on both ends of the floor the “Road Runners” surged ahead as they opened up a 51-38 lead.

In the 2nd half the inside presence of 6-0 So.-Courtney Jones, 6-1 Jr.-Jasmine Tate and 5-9 So.-Katie Hancock kicked in as the “Road Runners” started pulling away earning themselves a spot in the championship game.
Final Score:  Alabama Road Runners 74 - GA/Lina 76ers 63

Scoring Recap

Alabama Road Runners: Yvonne Anderson scored 14 points (2 three-pointers) to lead five players who scored in double figures. Katie Hancock (2 three-pointers) added 12 points, Ruth Ketchum and Jasmine Tate each finished with 11 points and Courtney Jones chipped in with 10 points.

GA/Lina 76ers: Bailey Dewart was the games high scorer with18 points. Whitney Wiley added 14 points, Katrina Goss finished with 12 points and Kathryn Lyons chipped in with 11 points.

Reported by Larry Williams - 4SHOT Hoops

Many observers on-hand including yours truly thought that these two teams were the best teams in the tournament, after all they both have great coaches, size (with talent), great guards and outstanding role players; and it was a shame that one of them was going to have to go home empty handed if they lost this semi-final game.

Right from the start the game felt like a championship game, two quick baskets by 6-0 Jr.-Jordon Ford helped the “Express” jump out to a 6-0 lead. The “Elite” responded when their future McDonald’s All-American 6-4 Fr.-Kelsey Bone scored back-to-back hoops to cut the lead to 6-4.

Heidi Brandenburg (#41) and Monique Oliver proved too be to of the best roll players in the torunament.

The “Express” appeared to be a step ahead of West Coast early on, 6-2 Jr.-Micah Garouttie, 6-3 Jr.-Hedi Brandenburg and 6-0 So.-Layne Reeves were the catalysis behind the Texas run as they took a 21-12 lead. Midway through the half West Coast started picking up their defensive intensity, 6-4 So.-Ashley Gayle started swatting away shots that turned into points on the other end for her team; a basket by 6-1 Jr.-Stefanie Gilbreath cut the Texas lead to 24-21 with 7:48 left in the half.

With about 6:50 left in the half the “Elite’s” 5-7 Jr.-Italee Lucas just started going “OFF”, her three-pointer gave West Coast the lead. By the end of the half Lucas had dropped 24 points and had her team up 48-39.

The 2nd half was like the first played like a chess match; “Express” Head Coach Dianna Sager would make a move and the “Elite” Head Coach Kevin Morrison would counter, it was great to see two teams with such outstanding players be coached to play as well as they both did.

Behind the play of 5-8 Jr.-Katie Tull, 6-1 Jr.-Jenna Simmel and 6-0 So.-Whitney Hand the “Express” made a run but it just took too much out of them. Bone, Lucas, Gilbreath and 6-3 Fr.-Monique Oliver stepped it up another notch and West Coast went on to a hard fought but convincing semi-final game win over a very talented Texas “Express” team.

Final Score: West Coast Elite 85 - Texas Express 63

Scoring Recap

West Coast Elite: Italee Lucas led all scorers with a game high 29 points. Kelsey Bone finished with 16 points, Stefanie Gilbreath added 14 points and Monique Oliver chipped in with 10 points.

Texas Express: Whitney Hand scored 13 points to lead the “Express”. Micah Garouttie added 10 points, Layne Reeves and Katie Tull each finished with 9 points.

GA Metros 15U vs. GA Metros 16U
Semi-Finals (Gold Division)

Reported by Jabari “Klapp” Glapion – 4SHOT Hoops

The GA Metros brought four teams to the Showtime Unlimited National Invitational so it inevitable that, at some point, two teams from the organization would have to face another.  With both teams coming off of solid wins to advance to semifinal play, the team to put it all together would be the one to come away with a win, along with a certain amount of bragging right.  The action in this one was frantic from the opening tip to the final buzzer.  At times it appeared to be hustle, while at other times, it was just sloppy. 

Super Soph Tessah Holt out of Fayette County High School continued to make the loudest noise as she racked up a game high 17 points for the 15U squad.  Holt, a 5’8 guard, showed that she can handle the rock, take it to the hole, and stop, drop, and pop.  Kajuanna Rivers, a 5’2 guard out of Decatur, GA, continued to be a thorn in the side of defenders as well, as she dashed and darted her way to 13 points.  The 16U was led by Christine Tolbert as the 5’11 forward finished the day with nine points.  She got little help though and the 15U now have one up the elder squad with a 50-45 win.

Final Score:  GA Metros 15U 50 – GA Metros 16U 45

Scoring Recap

GA Metros 15U:  Tessah Holt 17 points, Kajuanna Rivers 13 points, Temperance Jacobs eight points.

GA Metros 16U:  Christine Tolbert finished with nine points, and Courtney Long and Kylee Booth finished with eight and seven points respectively.

Reported by Rod "Kut" Freeman - 4SHOT Hoops  

It was a devil of a game between the Kenner Angels versus the KC Select. The game was everything but angel like as Kenner would win this one by 17. The Angels from Louisiana would be led behind the scoring of 5’9 junior guard Tiffany Aidoo.

Tiffany would rain three pointers from down town peach tree street to put the Select out of commission. Aidoo’s game high 5 three-pointers would get teammate Caitlin Cleveland in the scoring act with 3 three-pointers of her own. The two combine for a total of 35 points in the game. The Angles Adrienne Johnson would not let Tiffany and Caitlin do all the scoring, as she would consistently hit jumpers to contribute 14 points to the final total.

KC Select on the other hand would have to rely heavily on the shooting of Tyra White and Terria Ford who both combine for 5 three-pointers. The range of the Angels on this day would be a little too much for the Select as Kenner would blast their way to victory. 

Final Score: Kenner Angels 63 - KC Select 46

Scoring Recaps

Kenner Angels:  Tiffany Aidoo 19 points (Game High), Caitlin Cleveland 16 points and Adrienne Johnson 14 points.

KC Select:  Tyra White 15 points (Team High), Terria Ford 10 points, Morgan Boyd and Alisha Bell both scored 9 points.

Essence 17U vs. OGDL
Quarter-Finals (Gold Division)

Reported by Rod "Kut" Freeman - 4SHOT Hoops  

The quarterfinal match-up between OGDL out of California versus Essence 17U from Tallahassee Florida was a high scoring affair. The Essence would was no time in getting things started with a three-pointer from 6’0 sophomore Tiffany Hayes, who led the team with a game high 21 points. While Tiffany was handling the outside, the inside belonged to 6’3 center Chelsey Lee who came in second in scoring with 17 points 6 rebounds and converting 5 free throws from the line to make an impact. The player to watch in this game was 5’6 point guard Amber Smith who cashed in a quiet 10 points to prove that point guards don’t only get assists.

On the OGDL side of things 6’1 forward Ifunanya Ibekwe and 5’8 combo guard Reiko Thomas would combine for a team high 22 points. While teammate Christina Lelbir would score 8 points on hard drives to the basket. A game that look to be headed down the wrong street, turned out to be not bad for OGDL but good for the Essence. 

Final Score: Essence 74 - OGDL 62

Scoring Recaps

Essence 17U:  Tiffany Hayes 21 points (Game High), Chelsey Lee 17 points 6 rebounds, Amber Smith 10 points and Varisia Raffington 8 points.

OGDL:  Ifunanya Ibekwe 11 points, Reiko Thomas 11 points and Christina Lelbir 8 points.

Reported by Rod "Kut" Freeman - 4SHOT Hoops  

In the 15 under age group, the All-Ohio Red has been one of my favorite teams to watch. The consistent play of 6’2 small forward Kendall Hackney has been dazzling day in and out. Hackney possess a turn around jumper, a solid post move and the basketball I.Q. to know where to position to rebound the ball. Her teammate 6’2 power forward Angela Groves would steal the show in this game as she finished with a game high 14 points. The Dream Team had no answer for her or the 5’9 silent assassin Tyeasha Moss who pour in 11 points which include 2 three-pointers from the MARTA station.

The Dream team would play their hearts out for the entire game to come up short by 16 points in the loss. 5’5 Velicia Bell from Carrolton High school would lead the team with 13 points and drain 2 three-pointers. Unfortunately the Dream Team moves to the consolation bracket, while the All-Ohio Red steps on step closer to the championship via the semi-finals. 

Final Score:  All-Ohio Red 69 - Dream Team 15U 53

Scoring Recaps

All-Ohio Red:  Angela Groves 14 points (Game High), Kendall Hackney 13 points, Courtney Schiffauer 12 points and Tyeasha Moss 11 points.

Dream Team 15U:  Velicia Bell 13 points (Team High), Ashley Barley and Wykieria Brown 8 points each.