SUWANEE, GA – A team with two post players on the interior is hard to beat. Just ask any of the teams that had to play the Southern Stampede.

Two bookends plus depth and some intense coaching helped the Stampede beat Game Elite 67-57 at Suwanee Sports Academy on Sunday. The victory allowed the Stampede to capture the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Championships 16U crown. Josh Okogie, from Shiloh High, was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.

Southern had a feeling out process throughout most of the semifinal and final game. Part of the reason is the familiarity of its opponent. The Stampede had to get through Heat Check and Game Elite in order to capture the crown. Things worked out in their favor pretty well.

First thing the Stampede did was to get the ball inside to Tony Bradley and James Banks. The duo was tough to handle inside. At 6-foot-9 apiece those bookends just leaned on Game Elite’s interior guys. Bradley finished around the basket while Banks cleared all the boards. They were just too much.

Once the interior was established it allowed for the Stampede’s guards to get loose. Okogie raced down the floor for a few easy baskets before knocking down a few jumpers in between. Berkmar’s Al Durham got to the basket with ease. Jay Estime connected on open jumpers. Everything seemed to be clicking for the Stampede.

Okogie finished with a game-high 19 points. Estime added 12 points. Bradley and Durham chipped in with 10 points apiece.

However, while things were working heavily in the Stampede’s favor, Game Elite was not about to just fold up its tents and go home. They were going to fight until the end.

Andrew Jones set the tone on both ends of the floor. The McEachern High product just never let up. He took it to the Stampede’s post players to a tune of 15 points. Backcourt mate Chad Clay, from Walton High, chipped in with 12 points and defensive pressure whenever needed.

Their efforts helped cut the lead to single-digits but it was not enough to overcome what the Stampede had going on.SUWANEE, GA – A team with two post players on the interior is hard to beat. Just ask any of the teams that had to play the Southern Stampede.

Two bookends plus depth and some intense coaching helped the Stampede beat Game Elite 67-57 at Suwanee Sports Academy on Sunday. The victory allowed the Stampede to capture the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Championships 16U crown. Josh Okogie, from Shiloh High, was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.

Southern had a feeling out process throughout most of the semifinal and final game. Part of the reason is the familiarity of its opponent. The Stampede had to get through Heat Check and Game Elite in order to capture the crown. Things worked out in their favor pretty well.

First thing the Stampede did was to get the ball inside to Tony Bradley and James Banks. The duo was tough to handle inside. At 6-foot-9 apiece those bookends just leaned on Game Elite’s interior guys. Bradley finished around the basket while Banks cleared all the boards. They were just too much.

Once the interior was established it allowed for the Stampede’s guards to get loose. Okogie raced down the floor for a few easy baskets before knocking down a few jumpers in between. Berkmar’s Al Durham got to the basket with ease. Brett Heaffner connected on open jumpers. Everything seemed to be clicking for the Stampede.

Okogie finished with a game-high 19 points. Heaffner added 12 points. Bradley and Durham chipped in with 10 points apiece.

However, while things were working heavily in the Stampede’s favor, Game Elite was not about to just fold up its tents and go home. They were going to fight until the end.

Andrew Jones set the tone on both ends of the floor. The McEachern High product just never let up. He took it to the Stampede’s post players to a tune of 15 points. Backcourt mate Chad Clay, from Walton High, chipped in with 12 points and defensive pressure whenever needed.

Their efforts helped cut the lead to single-digits but it was not enough to overcome what the Stampede had going on.