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.

11th Grade Championship

The title game in 11th grade featured SWFL Hoops Red taking on Above Academy.  With only seven active players on the roster, Above would have three injured in the semi-final, having to call up the only remaining player from its ninth-grade team to give them enough players to finish the semi-final, which they won by raining threes, as well as to play the title game. 

In a bit of a surprise, Above jumped out to an 11-4 lead in the first four minutes as they continued to make shots from behind the arc.  Red eventually got thing worked out and tied the score at 22-22 with 5:50 left in the first half.  Above didn’t flinch and continued to make shots, pushing its margin to eight, 34-26, with just under three minutes to play in the half and forcing a Red timeout.  By the time the break rolled around, the score was 35-30 in favor of Above.

The break helped above and they once again built a lead.  After four minutes the score was 47-39 and one began to wonder if this “mighty five” would be able to hold on.  SWFL Red began to focus on using their size advantage and began to chip away at their deficit.  With 7:47 left, they made it all the way back, tying the score at 50-50.  The teams would continue to trade buckets and with four minutes left the score was 57-57.  With 1:30 left to play, Red  led 61-59 and spread the floor.  With no choice, Above had to start fouling.  With forty-four seconds left, Above finally put Red in the bonus and Pat Johnson hit a pair to make the score 63-59.  Above came right back as Jack Sullivan hit a three to get to within one with twenty-eight seconds left.  Above fouled again and Red answered with a pair of free throws from Noah Cutler to make the score 65-62.  Running on fumes, Above turned the ball over on its next possession.  Gabriel Timmons sank one of two free throws for Red to make it a two-possession game.  Above missed another three and Red scored a meaningless basket just before the buzzer to win by the score of 68-62.

For SWFL Red, both Chris Cornish and Patrick Johnson each finished with 23 points.  Cuttler finished with 12 points.

Above Academy was paced by Caleb McAbee with 19 points while both Brady Patterson and Cole Simmons each dropped in 15 points and Sullivan added 13 points.