Late Game Heroics

17U Stackhouse Elite pulled a game out of the fire against the Georgia Bulls, rallying from multiple double-digit deficits to score an improbable 80-78 victory in overtime. The Bulls led 35-30 at halftime after NOC-Tonkawa signee Deon Berrien scored nine of his 14 points in the opening 16 minutes. Ryan Jolly got off to a quick start as well and scored eight of his 12 points in the first half and finished the game with four assists to boot.

Stackhouse managed to hang around behind Kris Wooten’s three threes. In the second half, running mate Tyrone Nesby began to carry the load, trading bucket for bucket with the Bulls’ Kalen Williams (pictured). Nesby scored 16 points in the second half to lead the comeback after trailing 48-38 following a 10-0 surge from the Bulls to regain distance. Nesby matched Wooten with five threes apiece as Wooten netted 17 points and Nesby had a team-high 19. No sequence was bigger than when Nesby drilled an And-1 three with 10 seconds left in regulation, missed the free throw, rebounded it and kicked it to Wooten in the corner for a three to send the game to overtime with just seconds remaining.

It took everything the backcourt duo had to keep up with Williams. The Lakeside-Evans High School guard poured in 29 points – 26 after the first half. Williams buried four threes, sliced and diced his way to the rim and finished 8-of-10 from the line. The 2019 guard says that he has received zero college interest thus far.

Late in the second half and in overtime, Norcross’ Dalvin White made key plays down the stretch, pestering the Bulls ballhandlers. He finished with 12 points including the go-ahead layup off the overtime tip. White tacked on three rebounds, six assists and two steals.  Big men Cory Hightower and Amari Kelly gave the smaller Bulls fits. The Meadowcreek High School duo combined for 25 points and 14 rebounds, Hightower going for 15 & 5 while Kelly tossed in 10 & 9.

Greenbrier’s Austin Canaday gave the Bulls a great lift off the bench with 10 points and five rebounds.

Sleeper Central

The 17U Middle Georgia Raptors shook off a slow start to race past NWGA Select 68-54. Known for their under the radar talent, the Raptors received 16 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and two steals from Central-Talbotton’s ZyTavian Hill. First Presbyterian Day’s Armaun Smith energized the offense with 12 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals in place of Khalyn Weekly who was unable to attend this weekend.

Barrick Wade and Cody Henderson made good first impressions for NWGA. Wade, a 6-foot-2 lefty guard from Darlington, netted 16 points including four threes. Henderson, a 6-foot-4 guard out of Adairsville High School, finished with 16 points (three 3’s) and seven rebounds. Both players should be impactful for their respective high school teams this upcoming season in Northwest Georgia.
 

Augusta Royalty

The 17U Southern Kings opened up Gibbons 3-0, polishing off their perfect pool play with a 65-57 victory over NC Red Storm. Battling a pair of 6-foot-8’s, it was Timmy Sellers, formerly of Nike South Beach, who made the difference down the stretch for the Kings. The 6-foot-8 post from Glenn Hills High School woke up in the second half and scored 13 of his game-high 15 points in the frame. After seeing slim playing time on the EYBL circuit, Sellers made the most of his time with the Kings flushing down a handful of dunks and blocking two shots.

Kevin Williamson of Aiken High in South Carolina added a versatile 13 points and five rebounds while Tre Gomillion scored 12 and Trent Bowdre banged in nine points in the first half.

NC Red Storm received 12 points from Michael Bramwell and 10 from Dravon Mangum.

16U Game Elite outlasts North Atlanta Orangemen

Brenden Tucker dropped in 17 points to go along with three rebounds, three assists and four steals to help Game Elite past the Orangemen 62-51. Tucker (Archer) used a quick first step to blow by defenders and create for himself and teammates. Tucker thrived in transition and challenged the North Atlanta guards.

Big 6-foot-9 center RJ Campbell was a monster on the glass, gobbling up 15 rebounds to go with his nine points. Campbell struggled to convert on a couple of first chance opportunities, but was always in position to regather himself and finish on his second attempts.

Siah Gray and Jaxon Etter had 13 and 12 points respectively for the Orangemen. Kendall Lewis of Shiloh, is an intriguing prospect. At 6-foot-4, Lewis has a high motor and can be seen affecting nearly every play whether being a close out, a deflection or a rebound. He ended his day with six points, seven rebounds, one assist, two steals and one block.