TNE 16s Play Way into 3SSB Championship

Tuesday, July 13th, 2021

Team New England traveled to Alabama last week to play in the Adidas Boys Gauntlet Regional event, run alongside the 3SSB event in Birmingham. 

The goal was to play their way into the 3SSB championship field the following weekend, a feat that would only be possible with a championship. 

Four days later and they had done exactly that, capping off the weekend with a 56-54 win over Team Forrest in the championship game. 

The run began on Wednesday with a narrow 60-59 win over Team Nation. TNE actually fell on Friday to Team Carroll Premier but rattled off subsequent victories over Next Page Force and TX Takeover to advance to the final. 

Duane Thompson averaged 25 points and 9 rebounds throughout the week and knocked down the game-winning buzzer beater to take the championship. 

Jack Margroupis, Wesley Odiase, Tyrese Garcia-Melo, and Hassan Jenkins all played important roles as well. Margroupis hit timely shots in virtually every game and created mismatch problems while Jenkins exploded for five dunks in the semifinals. 

With the win, Team New England advances to the 3SSB championship field this week in Iowa where they open bracket play against Drive Nation in a bracket that also features the Atlanta Celtics and Compton Magic.