As the 2014 AAU hoops season enters its final weekend, three Harrisburg-based entries were in action … in Philadelphia, Richmond, Va., and Las Vegas.
Some won.
Some lost.
Some ended their campaigns favorably.
Some will have a chance to play again on Sunday.
SOUTH CENTRAL SELECT STRUGGLES
Tigh Savercool’s South Central Select U-17s were in their opening pool-play game throughout the first half, but Philadelphia-based Team Evolution exploded after the break and coasted to a commanding 28-point victory.
Team Evolution’s club is headlined by Archbishop Carroll’s Derrick Jones — Jones’ father coaches the team — a 6-6 forward on every major college’s wish list. And plenty were parked courtside to watch the talented youngster.
SCS closed out pool play with a 54-50 loss to New York’s Kendal Madison Playas, pushing the U-17s into a consolation bracket scrap Sunday morning (10:20).
Savercool’s U-16s owned a 33-27 lead over Philly’s powerful Team Final Blue at halftime, but South Central Select was victimized by a super second-half effort from Haverford School’s 6-6 junior Lamar Stevens and tumbled 61-54.
A third-team Class AAAA all-state selection as a soph, the remarkably athletic Stevens’ presence at Competitive Edge was one reason why a number of Division I programs (Penn State, Penn, Temple, etc.) were sitting courtside.
He’s sporting eight offers right now from Penn State, Indiana, Villanova, Temple, St. Joseph’s, La Salle, Rhode Island and East Carolina.
South Central U-16s rebounded in a later pool-play outing, defeating Hunting Park (Pa.) Warriors 52-40. Spring Grove soph Eli Brooks had a terrific second half, allowing the U-16s to create separation and lock up the win.
The U-16s will close out their End of Summer stay on Sunday afternoon (1 p.m.) in the Silver consolation bracket.
CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA ELITE SPLITS A PAIR
Coached by Shane Sweigart and Bobby Thomas, Central Pennsylvania Elite’s U-17s opened the Big Shots East Coast Duel with a tough loss, dropping a 45-43 decision to the West Virginia Storm Elite 17.
Cedar Cliff’s Cameron Paul and Bishop McDevitt’s Mark Ray scored 12 points apiece for CPE, while Derrell Harrison’s 10 points paced the West Virginia-based side.
CPE responded from their disappointing loss several hours later by drumming Flight 22b 60-28 behind 12 points apiece from Camp Hill’s Deshawn Franklin and Lower Dauphin’s Tommy Bowen. Ray added 11.
Up next for CPE is a Sunday morning scrap (11:30) in the consolation bracket with IBA Black 17.
TEAM PENNSYLVANIA CLOSES OUT VEGAS STAY
Placed in the U-17 consolation bracket despite a victory over Lakeshow Elite on Friday night, Joe Proctor’s club drummed the Gymrats (N.Y.) 81-55 in their final appearance at the invitation-only Fab 48 event in Las Vegas.
Holy Cross commit and Harrisburg High senior Jahaad Proctor continued his torrid pace in the desert, scoring 25 points for Team Pennsylvania. Proctor averaged just under 25 points per game during his four-game run.
Loyalsock’s Omar Little (13), Central Dauphin’s Aaron Gress (12) and Harrisburg’s Dejour Williams (10) also cracked double figures for Team Pennsylvania, which led 42-27 at the break. Team PA finished the event 2-2.
Former William Tennent standout Horace Spencer, the 6-8 hammer who now plays in Vegas at Findlay Prep, scored 18 points for the Gymrats.
Meanwhile, Mike Pilsitz’s U-16s completed their stay in Vegas by defeating Texas Dynasty in a consolation bracket affair. No other details were available.
Pilsitz’s U-16s, like the U-17s, went 2-2 in Vegas.
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