By Scott Hansen
MaxPreps.com
The MSB Roadrunners ensured the 16th Annual Mr. Basketball Tournament title would go back to Minnesota for the first time after a 71-60 victory over the Iowa Barnstormers in the tournament final Sunday in Kearney, Neb.
Mike Weiloch, a three-year starter at Rosemount in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, stole the show in the final by hitting five threes while scoring a game-high 21 points. Juniors-to-be Carlton Star (13 points in the final) and Johnie Sanders (12 points in the final) were both named Mr. Basketball All-Americans for the champions.
The Roadrunners went 7-1 in the tournament, with their only blemish coming to pre-tournament favorite Alegent Crusaders (Neb.) I.
The Barnstormers shocked the Crusaders in the semifinal thanks to Alex Walker and Eli Gronendyk, who combined for 51 points. Antoine Young, who is committed to Creighton, dropped 30 in the loss.
Jamar Wall of Wisconsin Elite averaged 27 points per game over the four-day tournament. Wall averaged 23.8 points per game last season for Milwaukee Edison.
The Miss Basketball Big Show also took place, hosting 32 teams with players who are entering ninth and tenth grade for the upcoming school year.
The Kansas Belles took home the crown after going 9-0, capped off with a 54-42 victory over the Minnesota Metro Stars in the final.
Doug Koster, who was a standout basketball player for Kearney High School and the University of Nebraska-Kearney, is the President of Mr. Basketball Inc. For more information on Mr. Basketball, visit http://www.misterbasketball.com.
16th Annual Mr. Basketball Tournament
Quarterfinals
MSB Roadrunners 64, Doherty Spartans 49
SWD Select 67, Minnesota Magic 65
Iowa Barnstormers 77, Midwest Trailblazers 48
Alegent Crusaders I 89, Springfield Gamecocks 66
Semifinals
MSB Roadrunners 70, SWD Select 54
Iowa Barnstormers 83, Alegent Crusaders I 81
Championship
MSB Roadrunners 71, Iowa Barnstormers 60
Championship Box Score
MSB Roadrunners 71
Iowa Barnstormers 60
MSB: Alfred Jaryan 11, Carlton Starr 13, Nick Ramsay 5, Mark Weiloch 21, Johnie Sanders 12, David Berthene 5, Tim Sauer 4.
Iowa: Shawn Keizer 4, Cliff Warner 16, Alex Walker 13, Eli Groenendyk 16, Jake Hughes 5, Mike O'Neal 6.
2007 Mr. Basketball All-Americans
Seniors
Name, High School, AAU Team, Tournament Scoring Average
Antoine Young, Bellevue West (Neb.), Alegent Crusaders, 22.6
Doug Bissen, Harlan (Iowa), IBCA Iowa Select I, 17.0
RJ Rhoads, Kearney (Neb.), Kearney Bearcats, 17.8
Cody Linder, Plattsmouth (Neb.), Midwest Trailblazers, 12.5
Newman Wiley, Minneapolis South (Minn.), Minnesota Magic, 19.8
Luke Harris, Bolivar (Mo.), Springfield Gamecocks, 13.3
Will Brown, Syracuse (Kan.), SWD Select, 15.0
Lamar Wall, Milwaukee Edison (Wis.), Wisconsin Elite, 27.0
Juniors
Name, High School, AAU Team, Tournament Scoring Average
Pierce Hornung, Arvada Ralston Valley (Colo.), Colorado Shining Stars I, 13.0
Bryse Velasquez, Colorado Springs Doherty (Colo.), Doherty Spartans, 18.2
Cliff Warner, Pella Christian (Iowa), Iowa Barnstormers, 16.0
Bryce Simmons, Topeka Seaman (Kan.), Kansas Attack, 14.8
Carlton Starr, Bloomington Kennedy (Minn.), MSB Roadrunners, 12.5
Johnie Sanders, Apple Valley Eastview (Minn.), MSB Roadrunners, 12.3
Spencer Fahey, Grand Island CC (Neb.), Runza Slamfest Stars, 10.5
Eli Groenendyk, Sioux City North (Iowa), Iowa Barnstormers, 15.4