Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Las Vegas: Day Four

The Texas D1 Ambassadors-Morse 16U squad played in the 17U division of the Las Vegas Live event.  Effort, poise and great team work allowed them to go 3-0 and a spot in the highest level of the bracket play.  This effort "rewarded" them with an encounter at 8AM this morning with Dallas DHJ5 a team that the Texas D1 Ambassadors-San Antonio 17U had beaten 63-55 in super pool action on Sunday.

Dallas DJH5  66   Texas D1 Ambassadors-Morse 44
This group of youngsters knew they'd have their work cut out for them against a DJH5 squad featuring nationally ranked players in Chris Washburn and Keith Frazier.  They gave a strong effort early and were in a tie game just prior to half time.  As the game wore on their inexperience, along with the strength of a more physical opponent led to the game being a run away win for DJH5.  2013 G Will Morse of Austin Westlake led the way with 16 points.  2013 G Darrius Brooks of Pflugerville added 13.  These kids worked hard and had a great summer.  2013 P 6'6" Zach Overby battled down low and really looks to be a star in the making for Coach Brian Young's Kerrville Tivy Antlers this fall.
2013 G Will Morse of Austin Westlake had an excellent summer

Texas D1 Ambassadors-San Antonio 53  Greenline Basketball Club  43 
Greenline was made up of players entirely from De La Salle High School, a California prep powerhouse.  They were undersized but they ran a Princeton style offense to perfection keeping the score down and controlling tempo.  They also had an outstanding 2013 player in W 6'5" Elliot Pitts who shwoed deep range and a high basketball IQ. 

However, on to the victors as Coach Paul Josephs Texas D1 Ambassadors-San Antonio continue to show that they are a tough draw on the circuit.  They upped their tournament record to 4-0, including three super pool victories.  2012 G Niko Maxwell of San Antonio Clark entered the game in the first half and injected energy as he scored all 10 of his points in the opening period.  2012 stalwarts Adam Perez of San Antonio Clark added 11 points and 4 assists, while Big Connor Lammert had 12 points and chalked up 14 boards.  Lammert gets better by the minute.

Texas D1 Ambassadors-Bostic 63  Oklahoma Shock  59
In their first game of bracket play in the 17U silver division at Las Vegas Live, Team Bostic won a close game by breaking a late tie and sending the Oklahoma Shock home.  2013 G Napoleon Onyeje of Pflugerville continues to score at a high rate as he led the team with 17 points.  Dylan Larson of New Braunfels added 11 and Darrian Bostic of Pflugerville had 9.
2013 G Dylan Larson of New Braunfels
Texas D1 Ambassadors 2013-Bostic  58  Team Missouri  38
Pflugerville's Justin Moss led the way with 18 points, with Napoleon Onyeje and Rasmus Bach supporting him with 11 a piece.  2013 P 6'6" Wesley Brown gave his usual tough, hardworking effort on the boards doing the dirty work so the D1 guards can put their points up.
2013 P 6'6" Wesley Brown provides the glue for Team Bostic
Texas D1 Ambassadors-Bostic 66  San Antonio Hurricanes 64
In their third bracket game of the day, Texas D1 had to dig deep against their neighbors from down south on I-35. 2013 Aussie transplant Rasmus Bach, gave the Hurricanes a "G'day mate" at the buzzer as he hit a 15 footer as the game ended to notch the win.  Balanced scoring from Dylan Larson (14), Darian Bostic (11) and 2013 Sled Allen 11 were the keys to the win , along with a hardnosed defensive effort down the stretch.
2013 G Rasmus Bach of Austin Anderson hit the clutch shot for the game winner

Texas D1 Ambassadors-San Antonio  73  Marcus Banks Hard 2 Guard (Nevada) 59
Marcus Banks squad was indeed "hard to guard" in the first half as their jumpers were falling, many of them from deep.  The score at the half was 36-35 for Marcus Banks.  The second half was another story as the D1 Ambassadors clamped down defensively and won going away 73-59.  Adam Perez (11 pts, 7 assists, 4 rebounds), Connor Lammert (14 points, 9 rebounds), Jeffrey Rodewald (12 points, 7 rebounds) and Matt Gramling (15 points and 4 assists) all elevated their games in the second half to breeze to the win.
2012 G Adam Perez is a gamer who knows how to win
Texas D1 Ambassadors-San Antonio  62  Friends of Hoops (Washington) 61
This wasn't Texas D1's first rodeo in overcoming adversity.  Down 28-19 at the half and 56-45 with less than 4 minutes remaining they dug deep.  D1 Ambassadors Coach Josephs told me before the game he thought that Friends of Hoop could be susceptiple to the press.  For the majority of the game it did not produce turnovers but it did serve to wear down FOH's ballhandlers.  All heck broke loose in a two minute span as Texas D1 caused multiple turnovers and tied the score 58 all with 2 minutes left.  The Texans got the ball with 2 minutes left and held for the last shot. At 24 seconds, the ball was dribbled off a foot and FOH now had the last possession...that was until 2012 F Jeffrey Rodewald swooped in for one more steal and hit a critical layup.  Uche Ofoegbu calmly sank two subsequent free throws and the D1 Ambassadors finished on a 17-2 run.  An uncontested three with only 4 seconds left closed it to one as time ran out.  The Final Four of the Las Vegas Live event begins tomorrow at 10AM at Durango High School.

Rodewald had 13 points and 5 rebounds. Uche Ofoegbu (12 points), Connor Lammert (12 points, 6 rebounds) and Matt Gramling hit four three pointers in the 2nd half and finished with 18 to lead all scorers.
2012 Matt Gramling is seeing his stock soar this July
Texas D1 Ambassadors 2014 56   Missouri Flight 42
2014 W 6'4" Garrett Gray of Marble Falls had 14 points and 8 steals in an impressive win.
2014 Garrett Gray showed great athleticism in his team's win
Texas D1 Ambassadors 47  Georgia Hornets 45
2014 G Chase Carlton led the way with 18 points and 2015 G Harrison Hackney got his feet wet on the circuit as the incoming freshman had 8 points and 7 steals.
Look for 2014 G Chase Carlton to give Austin Westlake a 3rd quality guard this fall

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