As AAU basketball teams arrived at Sunday’s finish line panting, all of them could collectively gasp the same set of meaningful words upon taking a seat.
“It’s over. … Finally.”
Two Harrisburg-based groups brought the hectic NCAA Division I open evaluation period to a conclusive end Sunday in Richmond, Va., and suburban Philadelphia with strong finishes at a pair of highly competitive events.
Bishop McDevitt’s Mark Ray scored 12 points — it was the 6-4 senior’s third double-digit effort in as many outings — while CD East’s Derrick Biney banked 11 points and Camp Hill’s Deshawn Franklin checked in with 10.
Jared Ruiz’s 11 points topped IBA Black 17.
CPE ended its season several hours later, falling 56-44 to Fab Phenom (D.C.) 17. Franklin netted 12 points and Lower Dauphin’s Tommy Bowen added 10 for CPE. Jake Kuhn’s 16 points topped Fab Phenom.
Meanwhile, at Competitive Edge in King of Prussia, South Central Select’s U-17s wrapped up the End of Summer Classic with an 85-79 triumph over Johnstown-based Mountain Cats in a consolation-round contest.
Tigh Savercool’s group picked up strong efforts from Gettysburg’s Colin Bortner and Hershey’s Taylor Sweeney en route to the season-ending win.
Savercool’s U-16s also closed out the End of Summer Classic in victorious fashion, downing Team Philly 70-59 in a consolation-round dustup.
Carlisle’s Jordan Purcell and Bishop McDevitt’s James Williams were effective throughout for SCS, while Spring Grove’s Eli Brooks’ work with the ball down the stretch prevented Team Philly from turning the U-16s over.
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