By Dave Krider
MaxPreps.com
Yates (Houston, Texas) emerged from the plethora of Christmas basketball tournaments as the hottest - and biggest surprise - team in the nation. The Lions shocked two teams which at one time had been ranked No. 1 in the country by at least one service to win the Houston vs. The Nation title at the Campbell Center.
In the championship clash, Yates (12-2) handed St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.) its first loss, 66-60, as Baylor-bound Anthony Jones pumped in 25 points. The 6-foot-9, 180-pound senior drilled 3-of-4 from three-point range and played like a McDonald's All-American. Quintrell Thomas, a 6-8 Kansas recruit, paced St. Patrick (6-1) with 22 points and 13 rebounds.
In the semifinals, Yates stunned Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), 82-80, before a crowd of 6,000. Jones scored 22 points while matched up against 6-9, 290-pound Oak Hill junior Keith "Tiny" Gallon, who finished with 18 points and eight rebounds. Oak Hill's outstanding senior guard, Brandon Jennings, took game honors with 31 points.
Oak Hill, which has lost three games due to lack of depth, took third place with a 108-88 victory over Houston Madison in an old-fashioned shoot-out. Jennings pumped in 36 points and dished out seven assists. Gallon contributed 24 points and 15 rebounds. Madison's super 5-9 junior guard, Tommy Mason-Griffin, matched Jennings' 36 points while also accounting for seven rebounds and five assists. The LSU commit scored 28 points one night earlier during a 79-67 loss to St. Patrick.
Another highly-ranked, undefeated team, Montverde Academy (Fla.), fell twice to Texas teams during the Houston tournament. Cypress Springs ended Montverde's 42-game winning streak with a 65-59 upset and the following night Spring Klein Collins nipped the Florida power, 45-43.
Bojangles Shootout
St. Benedict's (Newark, N.J.) continued to play like the No. 1 team in the country by defeating Moeller (Cincinnati, Ohio), 56-45, to win the National Division of the Bojangles Shootout in Waxhaw, N.C. Senior center Samardo Samuels (6-9) received his second straight MVP award after scoring 23 points and grabbing seven rebounds.
In the semifinals, St. Benedict's (12-0) defeated South Atlanta (Atlanta, Ga.), 57-43, behind that man again - Samuels had 17 points and 16 rebounds even though he was slowed by a tender ankle. One of the nation's premier juniors, 6-9 Derrick Favors, got into foul trouble and was limited to 16 points and 11 rebounds. One night earlier Favors had exploded for 42 points, 20 rebounds and 12 blocks.
In the third-place game, Favors locked horns with 6-5 junior Lance Stephenson of Lincoln (Brooklyn, N.Y.) in a test of 2008-2009 National Player of the Year candidates. Fouls again cut Favors' playing time short (he fouled out with 5:30 left to play), but South Atlanta overcame an 18-point deficit to nip Lincoln, 68-65, as 6-4 senior Robert Jones starred with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Favors finished with 12 points and seven blocks, while Stephenson had 23 points, nine rebounds and five assists. He also made eight turnovers.
MaxPreps Offensive Player of the Year in football, Terrelle Pryor, apparently has made a smooth transition to basketball. The 6-6 senior amassed 31 points (12-of-15 from the field), 11 rebounds, nine assists and four blocks as Jeannette edged Erwin (Birmingham, Ala.), 76-70, in overtime during the consolation round.
Amare Stoudemire Invitational
The first annual Stoudemire tourney in Davenport, Fla., produced an all-California finale with Compton Dominguez edging Los Angeles Fairfax, 57-52. Junior guard Jordan Hamilton sparked the champs with 17 points and 10 rebounds. He drilled six free throws in the critical fourth period during which Dominguez was 13-for-13 as a team. Still, the MVP award went to 6-10 Renardo Sidney - the No. 1 ranked junior in the nation - who scored 20 points.
In the semifinals, Dominguez nipped Kathleen (Lakeland, Fla.), 55-53, behind Hamilton's 25 points. Sidney had 29 points and 15 rebounds as Fairfax ousted Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia, Pa.), 73-62, in its semifinal contest.Sidney easily won the earlier match-up against 6-10 Jeremy Tyler of San Diego (Calif.) High, who is the nation's No. 1-ranked sophomore. He scored 32 points (14-of-21 from the field) and grabbed nine rebounds as Fairfax romped to a 62-34 triumph. Tyler was 0-for-10 from the field, 0-for-2 from the free throw line, had five blocks and three rebounds.
T-Mobile Invitational
Guard-oriented St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) cut down some tall timber en route to a 54-43 title-game victory over Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) before a crowd of 5,000 at the University of New Mexico. Junior guard Dominic Cheek paced the unbeaten Friars (6-0) with 16 points and seven rebounds and made 10-of-14 at the free throw line. The Friars outrebounded Lone Peak by nine in spite of its towering frontline which stretches 6-11, 6-7 and 6-7 - all Division I signees.
Despite the huge change in altitude, St. Anthony romped to an opening 84-34 rout of La Cueva (Albuquerque, N.M.). Mike Rosario set the pace with 15 points and Tyshawn Taylor followed closely with 14 on 7-of-9 from the field.A film crew from Chicago-based TeamWorks Media is shadowing the Friars while it prepares a documentary.
Beach Ball Classic
Duncanville, Texas (19-1) rolled past Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.), 69-57, to win the 27th annual tourney at Myrtle Beach, S.C. Roger Franklin, a 6-5 junior, had 18 points and six rebounds for the champs to earn MVP honors. Teammate Shawn Williams, a 6-7 junior, set the pace for Duncanville with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Richard Howell, a 6-8 junior, led Wheeler with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
In the semifinals, Duncanville edged Monsignor Pace (Miami, Fla.), 67-61, behind Franklin's 20 points and 14 rebounds. Williams also tallied 20 points and had nine rebounds. Howell netted 19 points to lead Wheeler past Boys & Girls (Brooklyn, N.Y.), 77-75.
Proviso West Holiday Tournament
Whitney Young (Chicago, Ill.) avenged its only defeat by nipping previously unbeaten Homewood-Flossmoor (Flossmoor, Ill.), 55-53, in overtime to capture the 47th annual affair in Hillside, Ill. A.J. Rompza led the Dolphins with 17 points, but Chris Colvin, who had 10 rebounds and five points, scored the game-winner on a coast-to-coast drive with five seconds remaining.
In the semifinals, junior Marcus Jordan scored 14 points to spark Young to a 59-45 victory over Winnetka New Trier. Homewood-Flossmoor handed Chicago Marshall its first loss, 63-61, in overtime on Dominique Harvey's driving layup with 4.8 seconds left. Senior point guard Kevin Dillard led the winners with 27 points, seven steals and five assists. He drilled 18-of-24 from the free throw line.
King of the Bluegrass
Louisville Male edged Hopkinsville University Heights, 53-51, in an all-Kentucky finale to capture the title at Fairdale, Ky. Senior point guard Rodd Lanon earned hero status by scoring in the lane with 2.6 seconds left. He finished with 13 points and six assists while making just two turnovers and playing all 32 minutes. MVP Scotty Hopson had 19 points and 10 rebounds in a losing effort.
In a wild, record-setting third-place game, Louisville Manual overcame a 20-point third-quarter deficit to edge Fayette County (Fayetteville, Ga.), 109-106, in overtime. Aaron Williams, who drilled 19-of-21 free throws, led the champs with 42 points. The 215 points broke a 14-year-old tourney record. Brandon Boykins led the losers with 28 points.In an earlier round, 6-7 blue-chip junior Noel Johnson exploded for 46 points as Fayette County defeated Louisville Ballard, 80-67. He shot 16-of-26 from the field - including 5-of-7 from three-point range - and speared 10 rebounds.
Tournament of Champions
At Tulsa, Okla, Tulsa East Central took home the big trophy with a 67-60 victory over Oklahoma City Bishop McGuinness. Courtney Ingram was high scorer with 20 points and Ken Holdman scored 19 - including eight during the final three minutes.
Oklahoma has a pair of high-scoring seniors who hooked up in the second round and put on a show for a crowd of 4,100. Pawnee defeated Claremore Verdigris, 57-49, as Oklahoma State signee Keiton Page scored 28 points. However, Arkansas signee Rotnei Clarke took game honors with 34 points for the losers. It was hard to believe that Page was suffering from dehydration and cramps, while Clarke was battling a toe injury. On the final day Page poured in 55 points during an 88-70 triumph over Stringtown. He shot 15-of-31 from the field and was perfect on 19 free throw attempts.
Hall of Fame Classic
Unbeaten New Albany defeated Batesville, 67-51, to win the 31st annual event at New Castle, Ind. Matt Lynch, a 6-4 senior, made 6-of-7 threes to finish with 20 points and MVP Donnie Hale - a 6-7 sophomore - added 16 points for the champs.
In the semifinals New Albany ousted No. 1-ranked Marion, 51-46, behind Braydon Hobbs' 19 points. Senior Jay Edwards paced Marion with 15 points. Batesville advanced by nipping Edgewood, the state's No. 1 Class 3A team, 66-65. Alex Grimsley set the pace with 23 points and Colt Ryan added 19. Garrett Butcher, a 6-7 Butler signee, led Edgewood with 36 points. Edgewood took third place with a surprising 65-60 victory over Marion as Butcher scored 25 and Tommy Weakley 23.
Other Basketball Tournaments
* Raleigh Word of God (12-0) became the first North Carolina school since 1989 to win the GlaxoSmithKline Holiday Invitational when it surprised DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.), 64-62, at Raleigh Broughton. John Wall, a 6-4 junior guard, had 14 points and three assists while earning MVP honors. C.J. Leslie, a 6-8 sophomore, took game honors with 19 points and was named Most Outstanding Player.
* In Haltom City, Texas, North Crowley (Fort Worth, Texas) captured its first championship in the 50th annual Whataburger Tournament with a 72-60 victory over Carroll (Monroe, La.). Standout senior guard Willie Warren led 20-1 North Crowley with 23 points and was named MVP.
* Turning to Nevada, Bishop O'Connell (Arlington, Va.) defeated previously unbeaten Las Vegas Bishop Gorman, 83-71, to claim the Bishop Gorman Holiday Classic crown. Frank Ben-Eze, a 6-10 senior center committed to Harvard, came off the bench to score 19 points and grab 12 rebounds plus MVP honors. Jason Clark, a 6-3 senior headed to Georgetown, led the champs with 30 points, while 6-3 sophomore whiz Kendall Marshall - already committed to North Carolina - chipped in with 15 points and eight assists.
Boys Basketball Notes
* Earlier in December, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) ended a 52-game winning streak for Duncanville, Texas, in a 78-77 overtime thriller staged in Dallas, Texas. The traveling Virginians also put in an appearance at the University of Arizona's McKale Center where they outlasted Dudley (Greensboro, N.C.), 102-91. Oak Hill's brilliant senior guard, Brandon Jennings, poured in 49 points (15-of-28 from the field) to go with five steals and four assists, giving fans a preview of next year when he will attend the Tucson school.
* Alabama powerhouse Mobile LeFlore saw its 22-game winning streak come to an end with a 69-66 overtime loss to Vincent (Milwaukee, Wis.) during the Wisconsin Boys Basketball Yearbook Shootout at the Al McGuire Center. Marquette University recruit Nick Williams led the winners with 29 points. Pacing LeFlore with 20 points was 6-9 junior Demarcus Cousins.
* Tyler Zeller continues to produce the kind of numbers that would enable him to follow older brother Luke as Indiana's Mr. Basketball in 2008. The 7-0 senior produced a near-perfect performance as Washington defeated Winchester, 65-53, in the Super Hoops New Year Classic at Butler University. He scored 43 points on amazing 14-of-17 from the field and 15-of-16 from the free throw line. He's already signed and sealed for North Carolina.
* Senior Jessie Curry broke a North Bullitt (Shepherdsville, Ky.) record with a 52-point explosion during a 90-84 victory over Covington Villa Madonna.Kore White, a 6-8 senior from Dillard (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), has committed to Marshall University. He is averaging 12 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks for an unbeaten team which also starts players standing 6-10 and 6-7.East Hampton (N.Y.) coach Ed Petrie recorded his 700th victory in December, while Chuck Crummie of Central Catholic (Pittsburgh, Pa.) earned No. 500.
* Highly-ranked Tyreke Evans had 32 points, six rebounds, six steals and five assists to spark American Christian (Aston, Pa.) to a 71-66 victory over Withrow (Cincinnati, Ohio). Cincinnati signee Yancy Gates (6-9, 250) paced Withrow with 28 points. Withrow players missed 17 free throws.
The 6-6 Evans, who is the nation's premier unsigned senior, now attends games with bodyguards and heavy police protection. Evans was the driver when his cousin, Jamar Evans, allegedly shot and killed a man, whom he claimed had been shooting at those in the vehicle. It's all related to gang violence in his hometown of Chester, Pa., and though Evans has not yet been charged, there is fear of retaliation. Philadelphia criminal lawyer Brian McMonagle has been hired to represent Evans.
Girls Basketball Notes
* Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, Calif.) edged previously unbeaten Notre Dame Academy (Middleburg, Va.), 58-54, to win the Black Division of the Nike Tournament of Champions - annually the nation's premier girls tourney - in Chandler, Ariz. Junior guard Kelli Thompson scored 16 points and senior guard Jasmine Dixon, who was named MVP, added 12 points for the champs, who were ranked No. 1 in the nation pre-season before being upset. Notre Dame Academy entered the tourney ranked No. 1.
Elena Delle Donne, the nation's No. 1 senior, missed the Tournament of Champions. She broke the Delaware career scoring record in the season opener, but has not played since then due to mononucleosis. The 6-5 superstar is being tested weekly, but the date of her return is uncertain at this time.
* One of the nation's premier juniors, Skylar Diggins, poured in 40 points to lead Washington (South Bend, Ind.) to a 72-66 win over host Hoover (North Canton, Ohio). The next night she scored 25 points as the Panthers (13-0) raised their winning streak to 41 games with a 55-35 win against Notre Dame Academy (Toledo, Ohio).
* Winter Haven (Fla.) defeated Fayette County (Fayetteville, Ga.), 73-57, to win the Crescent Bank Holiday Invitational in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Senior guard Tiffany Hayes, a Connecticut signee, scored 28 points to earn MVP honors as the Blue Devils raised their record to 16-1.Apex (N.C.) coach Scott Campbell recorded his 400th victory in December.
* Fenwick (Oak Park, Ill.) won its fourth consecutive Dundee-Crown Tourney in Carpentersville, Ill., with a 60-52 overtime victory against previously unbeaten Buffalo Grove. Tricia Liston paced the champs with 21 points and eight rebounds. Sophomore Katlyn Payne added 16 points even though she has been playing for the last month with a broken bone in her right foot.
* Gene Pearce has written an interesting and comprehensive history of the famous Shelbyville (Tenn.) Central girls basketball team entitled "Only Eaglettes Understand." The golden era, of course, was coach Rick Insell's 28 years during which he won two national and 10 state championships, forged a staggering 110-game winning streak and turned out numerous Division I players. It also goes back to the roots of the sport in the state and discusses the pioneers. Pearce may be reached at rgpsr@aeneas.net.
Football Notes
* Trinity (Louisville, Ky.) offensive tackle Sam Robey (6-5, 255) has made a commitment to the University of Florida.Versatile St. Xavier (Cincinnati, Ohio) kicker/WR Danny Milligan (5-9, 163) has landed a scholarship to hometown Cincinnati.Clemson has a commitment from Dalton Freeman, a 6-6, 265-pound tackle from Pelion, S.C.Cabell Midland (Ona, W.Va.) offensive lineman Andrew Brewer (6-4, 270) has committed to Purdue University.Ball State University has received a commitment from 6-6, 250-pound tackle Cameron Lowry of Pike (Indianapolis, Ind.).
* John Rodenberg has been chosen as only the fifth head coach in the history of famed Moeller in Cincinnati, Ohio.Warren Central (Indianapolis, Ind.) has hired John Hart as its new head coach. Hart, age 45, is fresh from guiding Evansville Reitz to a 15-0 record and Indiana's Class 4A state title. His 23-year record at three schools is 197-61.Legendary Walt Frazier has retired as coach at Carol City (Miami, Fla.). In 26 years the 62-year-old Frazier compiled a 212-107 record with three state titles.
Wrestling Notes
* Central Dauphin (Harrisburg, Pa.) amassed 214.5 points to win the 41st annual Powerade Christmas Tournament in Canonsburg, Pa. Colonial Forge (Stafford, Va.) was runner-up with 198 points. Colin Johnston of host Canon-McMillan was named Most Outstanding Wrestler. The 135-pound senior posted a 5-0 record, beating Shane Welsh (Lower Burrell, Pa.), 5-2, in the finals. It marked his third Powerade title in four years.
* Easton, Pa., journeyed to Nevada to win the Reno Tourney of Champions with 209 points. Wasatch (Heber City, Utah) was second with 190.5 points. Jessy Amos of Palmer, Alaska was named Most Outstanding Wrestler. He won six straight matches, beating Jake Meredith (Temecula, Calif.), 3-1, for the 171-pound title.Mike Conners of Fulton, N.Y., recently recorded his 400th coaching victory. He has just 26 losses in 21 years.
Hockey Notes
* The U.S. National Junior Team won four straight games in the preliminary portion of the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championships in the Czech Republic. The Americans earned a bye into Friday's semifinals against either Canada or Finland.
Meanwhile, the U.S. National Under-17 team has defeated Russia, 6-2, Canada's Team West, 7-4, and Canada's Team Atlantic, 8-0, during the first three preliminary rounds of the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Ontario, Canada. Brandon Maxwell of Winter Park, Fla., made 39 saves against Russia after stopping 23 shots against Team Atlantic. The Americans spotted Team West a 4-1 lead before roaring back for a big victory.
Track Notes
* Victoria Flowers set a national indoor record by throwing the 20-pound weight 61-00.75 at the Brown Invitational in Providence, R.I. The senior from Classical (Providence, R.I.) added two inches to the 11-year-old record. The Connecticut recruit led the nation as a junior with a career-best 58-01.75.
* A team from New York, Holy Names, ran the second-fastest-ever indoor 4 by 1500 relay to place first during the Jim Mitchell Invitational at the Armory in New York City. Jordan White ran a 4:38.6 anchor to complete an outstanding race in 19:16.5. The record is 19:16.43 by Greenwich, N.Y.
Potpourri
* Coaching milestones: Gulliver Prep (Coral Gables, Fla.) soccer coach Jorge Dieppa recently notched his 500th victory. He now has a 501-115-54 record and four state championships in 31 years.GlenOak (Canton, Ohio) coach Jeff Burrows earned his 500th victory in swimming. In his 29th year of coaching, he is just the fourth in Ohio to reach the magic barrier.
* Roncalli (Indianapolis, Ind.) volleyball coach Kathy Nalley-Schembra has retired with a 911-357 record and three state titles. The 57-year-old coach is No. 2 in Hoosier career victories to Steve Shondell of Muncie Burris.
* Melanie Oudin of Marietta, Ga., who is 16 years old, reached the finals of the 18-and-under division in the prestigious Orange Bowl tennis tournament where 14-year-old Michelle Larcher de Brito of Portugal snapped her 27-match winning streak. Julie Wrege of Tennisrecruiting.net, however, reports that the biggest news was provided by unseeded Lily Kimbell of New Braunfels, Texas, who shocked the field by winning the age-15 Orange Bowl crown.
