4SHOT Sports

AAU Basketball
2008 Showtime Unlimited - Day 1
By 4SHOT Hoops
Jul 9, 2008, 08:19 EST

2008 Showtime Unlimited

University of Alabama Birmingham's Bartow Arena – Birmingham, AL

Birmingham, AL - The Showtime Unlimited Girls National Invitational Tournament is being held in Birmingham, AL this year and once again it will be featuring some of the top girls AAU programs in the country. The games will be played at the University of Alabama Birmingham’s Gene Bartow Arena, Lawson State CC and Wenonah HS. 4SHOT Hoops will be on hand to bring you all of the action.

Day 1 (Wednesday, July 9, 2008)

16U - Palmetto 76er's versus Bama Storm
Reported by Rod "Kut" Freeman

Birmingham, AL - The “Palmetto 76rs” from Columbia South Carolina looked to open up Day 1 of the Showtime Unlimited with a victory over the “Bama Storm” from Mobile Alabama. The game would get off on a fast start on a jumper by Sarah Green, a 6’1 junior small forward from Irmo High School. The 76rs would take off on an 8-0 run before coach Brian Thomas would have to call timeout. The timeout wouldn’t matter as the 76rs took the lead into the half 28-10. Frenise Lawson, a 5’6 senior guard from Alma Bryant High School would lead the Storm with 8 points, while teammate Morgan Crawford would follow with a close 7 points. The 76rs would finish with 5 players in close double digits, starting with Sarah Green, Devin Pearson, Trena Smith (all with 9 points). Destiny white and Shawanda Hanton follow next for the 76rs with 8 points each. A great overall game for the 76er's.

16U - Essence 16s versus Birmingham Ice

Reported by Rod "Kut" Freeman

Birmingham, AL - The hometown Birmingham Ice would welcome the Essence 16s team from West Palm Beach Florida to the HOT city. The Essence 16s team would accept the invitation by going in up 42-23 at the half. The Ice would fired back on a deep three pointer by Kanesha Watkins a 5’3 point guard from Parker High School to cut the lead to 11 points (53-42). Unfortunately, that wouldn’t be enough as Abril Peeples a 5’7 senior guard out of Americus-Sumter High School would answer back with the and 1 play to move the score back up 56-42 for the Essence team. At the end of the day, Abril Peeples game high 25 points would be too much as the Essence wins this one easy 60-46. Kanesha Watkins 13 points and Rashida Young 10 points would lead the Birmingham Ice. The Essence would feature two other players in double figures with Bianca Thorton 12 points and Shereka Manor 10 points.

15U - Essence 15U vs. Lady Mavericks
Reported by Rod "Kut Freeman"

Birmingham, AL - The Essence 15U team from Tallahassee Florida would really have to play against the ladies from Little Rock Arkansas. Coach Ed Durham has his Lady Mavericks ready as this game went down to the buzzer. With 9.9 seconds left in the game 5’4 junior guard Terrice Robinson would rebound a miss by the Mavericks hot hand Jerica James to seal the victory. Michelle Woods would go 1 for 2 from the free throw line to put the Essence up 60, as Xena King would toss up a prayer at the buzzer to keep the loss by one point 60-59. Jerica James led the Mavericks with 20 points, while teammate Shawnessi Arnold followed close with 19 points. Myeisha Hall and Sharnise Monroe carried the Essence with 14 points each. The Essence combo guard Michelle Woods would score 13 points in the victory.

14U - Tennessee Lady Shox (TN) vs. Madison Ballers (AL)

Reported by Larry “L.A.” Williams

Randle Mekena poured in 18 points of the Madison Ballers 28

Birmingham, AL - Randle Mekena poured in 18 points of the Madison Ballers 28 points in regulation time but was held scoreless in overtime as the Ballers fell 31-28 to the Tennessee Lady Shox.

The Ballers point guard Tiarra Prichett didn’t score a lot of points but did a nice job of directing their attach. The Shox’s had a balanced scoring attach led by Sidney Donnell who scored 9 points, teammate Jasmine Porter chipped in with 8 points.

The Final Score: Tennessee Lady Shox 31 - Madison Ballers 28 in OT

15U - Essence 2010 (FL) vs. Tennessee Lady Shox 14U (TN)

Reported by Larry “L.A.” Williams

6-2 freshman Bashaara Graves scored 13 in a loosing effort.

Birmingham, AL - The Essence didn’t waste any time getting their fast pace game into gear as they raced out to a quick 12-4 lead over the Lady Shox. Michelle Woods got off to a great start scoring 6 of those points for Essence. Once the Lady Shox caught their wind and they got back into the game. Led by 6-2 Bashaara Graves, 6-1 Tianna Porter and Chandler Cooper they cut the lead to 23-16 at the half.

Jessica Russi, Dajanelle Fowler and Terrice Robinson picked up their games in the second half for Essence and their pressure defense caused several Lady Shox turnovers as they opened up a 33-22 lead. The Lady Shox keep fighting but at the end of the day it was just too much Essence and Michelle Woods as they went on to a convincing win.

Michelle Woods scored a game high 19 points to lead Essence and Dajanelle Fowler finished with 10. The Lady Shox were paced by Bashaara Graves who scored 13.

The Final Score: Essence 46 - Tennessee Lady Shox 28

16U - KC Select (MO) 38 vs. Alabama Road Runner’s Elite (AL) 37

Reported by Larry “L.A.” Williams

Poly Harrington scored 9 points for KC Select.

Birmingham, AL - It’s appeared that throughout the first half of the game that the KC Select had control of the contest; led by the inside play of Diamond Ashmore and the three-point shooting of Poly Harrington and Desiree Bradley they took a 25-19 halftime lead.

In the second half the Road Runners turned up their intensity; Danielle Johnson drilled a pair of quick three-pointers to tie the game at 25-25. Kaneisha Horn and Adrienne Webb from the Road Runners really started giving the college recruiters something more to write down in their notes as they started making big plays.

A jumper by Webb gave the Road Runners a 37-35 lead but with 6.9 seconds to play the Select’s Richa Jackson completed a big three-point play to put them back in front 38-37. The Road Runners had one last chance but they turned the ball over.

Poly Harrington scored 9 points to lead the Select; teammates Richa Jackson added 8 and Desiree Bradley chipped in with 6. The Road Runners were led in scoring by Kaneisha Horn who had a game high 12 points, Adrienne Webb added 9 and Danielle Johnson 6.

The Final Score: KC Select 38 - Alabama Road Runner’s Elite 37

15U - GA Pistols Gold (GA) vs. Wichita Legends (KS)

Reported by Larry “L.A.” Williams

The Pistols Sarah Durdaller scored a game high 15 and played solid defense.

Birmingham, AL - The game between the Legends and Pistols was pretty even throughout the early part of the first half as the teams took turns trading baskets back and forth. But the Pistols behind the play of point guard Erica Norwood, Sarah Durdaller, Natasha Dixon and Brittany Hodges slowly started seizing control of the game. A lay-up by Durdaller put the Pistols up 18-11, they increased the lead to 10 heading into the half.

The Legends played a tougher second half led by Abby Fawcett, Abby Henning and Mary Sims. Fawcett’s basket with 4:44 left to play cut the Pistols lead to 55-49. The Pistols responded with 2 quick baskets inside by Christen Johnson to push the lead back up to ten, 59-49 as the went on to a solid 14 point victory.

Sarah Durdaller scored a game high 15 points to pace the Pistols, while Natasha Dixon and Brittany Hodges each finished with 13. The Legends got 13 points from Abby Henning.

The Final Score: GA Pistols Gold 65 vs. Wichita Legends 51