4SHOT Sports

AAU Basketball
GBOA Tournament - South Region
By Larry "L.A." Williams
Jun 30, 2008, 06:54 EST

Celtics knock-off Team Breakdown to win GBOA Crown

Chubb steps up in Favors absence

Norcross H.S. – Norcross, GA

GBOA South Region Championship Game

Atlanta Celtics (GA) vs. Team Breakdown (FL)

the Celtics Robert Chubb stepped up and played big in Derrick Favors absence.

Norcross, GA - The Atlanta Celtics entered the championship game of the GBOA South Region Tournament against one of the most talented AAU teams in the country in Team Breakdown (FL) without 3 of their top players; most notability 6-9 Derrick Favors (one of the top 5 juniors in the country).

So with that in mind and the way Team Breakdown dismantled an outstanding World Wide team in the semifinals not many were giving the Celtics a chance. Well the Celtics showed up proved that it takes a team effort and a lot of heart to win a championship.

With Favors missing 6-8 reserve Robert Chubb stepped right in and scored 6 of the Celtics first 10 points. Trae Golden, who is a powerful point guard muscled his way to the hole for a couple of quick hoops as the Celtics opened up a 13-4 lead; forcing Team Breakdown to call their second timeout of the first half.

LaQuinton Ross a smooth 6-7 forward out of Mississippi had an outstanding tournament for the Celtics. His three-pointer gave the Celtics their largest lead of the game 16-5.

Team Breakdown's Kenny "Shakem Up" Boynton shake's up Nick Watkins from the Celtics.

With players like All-World guard Kenny Boynton (see you at the 09 McDonald’s game in Miami), Brandon Knight and power forward Keith Clanton you knew that Team Breakdown wasn’t going to breakdown after a slow start; instead they broke down the Celtics defense and fought their way back into the game.

Boynton scored back-to-back baskets and Clanton scored inside to cut the Celtics lead 22-17 with 5:25 left in the half. A few moments later Boynton scored again to tie the game at 24-24. Andre Malone then came down court and drilled a long three-pointer to put the Celtics back in front 27-24.

A three-point play by Clanton gave Team Breakdown their first lead of the game with less than 2:00 minutes to go and then with time running out in the half Knight drilled a three-pointer to give Team Breakdown a 32-30 halftime lead.

The Celtics Trae Golden drives past TB's Keith Clanton.

Chubb started the second half like he did the first; scoring 8 quick points to put the Celtics back in front 42-39. Another player who gave the Celtics a big lift was 5-8 Duval Smith; who made the trip from Mississippi with Ross. Smith made perhaps the sweetest move of the tournament when he took the ball straight at the 6-6 Clanton who was guarding the paint; made a quick move and crossed over laying the ball in the basket with his left hand. The basket gave the Celtics a 63-54 lead.

If you haven’t seen Boynton play then you’d better ask somebody; not to be outdone he came down the court made a stutter step shake-n-bake move pulled up and drilled a three-pointer and was fouled. He completed the four-point play hitting the free-threw to cut the lead to 58-54 with 7:31 left to play in the game.

With 3:02 left to play Knight scored on a fastbreak to tie the game at 66-66. The Celtics then gave themselves a little breathing room as Golden and Malone both drill big-time three-pointers for a 72-66 lead with less than 2:00 minutes remaining in the game.

Keep your eye on Team Breakdown's Brandon Knight he's a good one.

Team Breakdown was unable to recover from those two big baskets and the Celtics went on to a tough 81-74 win to capture the GBOA South Region Championship. Both Teams now advance to Chicago along with the EAST, WEST and North entries in the GBOA Challenge of Champions.

Andre Malone and Manny Atkins from the Celtics were named the games Co-MVP’s

Scoring Recap:

Atlanta Celtics (GA)
Robert Chubb led the Celtics with 16 points and 5 boards. Manny Atkins and Trae Golden each finished with 12. Atkins also hauled down 6 rebounds. Nick Watkins added 11 and LaQuinton Ross, Duval Smith and Andre Malone each chipped in with 10.

Team Breakdown (FL)
Kenny Boynton scored 21 points to lead all scorers. Brandon Knight finished with 20 and Keith Clanton added 18.