From Staff Reports

It was Championship Sunday at the Conrad Memorial Tournament and we were able to take in all three title games in the 9th, 10th, and 11th Grade divisions.  As expected each was well-played and came down to the wire.

10th Grade Championship

Skills Center Elite made an appearance in the 10th grade title game, taking on SWFL Hoops.  Both teams were clearly the top two teams in that division based on what we saw from Saturday.

Both teams showed a lot of scoring power in pool play but this game was not to be in that vein.  SCE had a 6-4 lead after the first four minutes but the next four belonged to SWFL Hoops as they had a lead of just 11-10.  Over the next four minutes, SWFL Hoops would push their advantage to six, 22-16, but SCE ended the half on a 5-1 run to get within two, 23—21.

SCE opened the second half with a pair of back-to-back threes and then a free throw to go up five, 28-23.  The lead was six, 37-31, midway thru the second half.  That changed over the next three minutes as SWFL Hoops put together an 8-2 run to tie the score at 39-39. With two minutes left, SCE’s lead was down the just one, 44-43, and things got interesting.

Anthony Jones pushed the SCE lead to two with a free throw.  SWFL Hoops countered with a bucket inside to tie the score at 45-45 with fifty seconds left.  Kentrell Martin put SCE back up by one, hitting one of two free throws with forty-five seconds to play.  SWFL hoops took its time looking to get a shot but ended up calling a timeout with twenty seconds left.  Out of the break and after a few passes, John Chin let loose from deep, finding the bottom of the net to put SWFL Hoops up two, 48-46, with ten seconds remaining.  SCE immediately called a timeout.  On the inbounds play, SWFL Hoops’ Dior Evans jumped the passing lane and was fouled before he could score with five seconds to go.  He hit both free throws to make it a two possession game and essentially put the game out of reach for SCE.  SWFL Hoops would win in thrilling fashion, 50-46.

Evans led SWFL Hoops with 15 points while Chin added 11 points.

For SCE, both Jayson Montgomery and Jones each scored 13 points.