15u Super Showcase Wraps Up in Orlando

New England Recruiting Report | Friday, July 24th, 2009

BABC and Expressions Elite both swept their three pool play games en route to the gold bracket.  BABC defeated Leesburg TGFB 66-52, Louisiana Select 78-57, and then Cardinal-Robinson 48-33. 

Expressions received a forfeit win over Richmond Metro and then scored a good 64-62 win against a Carolina Ravens club that would go on to advance to the silver bracket championship.  Eli Lubick was the story early as he had 20 points and 6 three-pointers, but Andrew Chrabascz took over in the fourth quarter, scoring 12 of his 19 points.  Expressions handled Florida Future Leagacy with ease 58-28 in their final pool play game as Chrabascz had 14 and Showley Nicholson 13. 

BABC and Expressions found themselves squared off in the opening round of the gold bracket.  Defense proved to be the difference in this contest as BABC held Expressions to only 23 points en route to a 50-23 win.  Domonique Bull paced the victors with 16 points while Nerlens Noel had 8 points and 5 blocks in the first half before leaving the game with a rolled ankle.  Jaylen Brantley had a solid game running the point to the tune of 9 points and 5 assists while rising freshmen Goodluck Okonboh chipped in with 9 of his own. 

Expressions would win their final consolation game 66-57 over the Illinois Rising Stars.  Lubick again led the team in scoring with 14 while Tarik Smith had 13.  Expressions finished the showcase with a 4-1 record and a 9th – 12th place finish in the field. 

BABC would move on to the quarterfinals of the gold bracket where they would hammer the Memphis Stars 56-34.  Brantley was the story of this game as the young point guard solidified his place among the breakout performers in the field with a 24 point outing.  Noel finished with a double-double (blocks & rebounds) while also adding 7 steals. 

Unfortunately BABC’s run was cut short in the semi-finals as Iowa’s Martin Brothers Elite scored a slim 4 point victory despite another offensive outburst from Bull.  Nonetheless, the run to the final four was an impressive one for a team that will add several pieces next year upon reclassifications, including Egi Gjikondi. 

The Rhode Island Breakers were the only other New England based team in the field.  They fell victim to a tough draw in pool play which placed them in the copper bracket, but that’s where they began their run.  They knocked off PT Cruisers 59-49 in the opening round, blasted Leesburg TGFB 72-46 in the quarters, and squeaked by Tidewater Select 68-67 in the semi’s to set up a final with New Jersey Elite.  

New Jersey led for virtually the entire game before the Breakers fought back to tie the game and force overtime.  It continued to go back and forth in the extra period until the Breakers captured a one point victory, 68-67.  Garrett Douglas, a rising sophomore from Coventry High School, led the Breakers in scoring for the week as he connected on a total of 18 three-pointers and had outings of 25 and 21.  Rob Hazard, Cesar Mejia, and Ryan Anderson also had big weeks for the Breakers as well.