Hardwood Classic: Sunday Recaps
17U Champiosnhip
2:20 — Kingdom Hoops Elite 79 vs Team Penny 16U EYBL 78
Hoover’s Doug Wilson tipped in a Trey Buchanan miss at the buzzer (see video below) and Kingdom Hoops Elite won a loaded 17U field in Lawrence with style. Yes, it was a 16U team they beat, but the Team Penny guys were supremely talented and one of the top teams in the country at their age level. In a true team effort it was Buchanan again who led Kingdom with 18 points. Charley Crowley capped an exceptional weekend with a 14 point performance, and was instrumental down the stretch. Jal Bijiek slammed home four electrifying dunks and ended with 13. Drew Maschoff kicked it into high-gear late and finished with 11. What’s more remarkable is that in a first round game yesterday this team trailed LockDown Elite (IN) 31-13 — and then by 17 at half — before coming back and winning the game, and ultimately keeping them alive for this championship run.
Hoover's Doug Wilson w/game winner in 17U title game for Kingdom Hoops Elite @HardwoodEvents – KH family goes nuts! pic.twitter.com/xS4f02dFh4
— TJ Rushing (@TjRushing) July 24, 2016
Elite 8
9:05 — Kingdom Hoops Elite 15U 61 vs Illinois Wolves 63
It was a frenzied finish in this one, and ultimately it was two clutch free throws from the Wolves’ Bryce Hopkins that would be the game-winning points. Though Des Moines North 2019 Lino Malual did almost drain a would-be half-court game-winner (see below). Kingdom was down nearly the entire game before they made a late charge — led mostly by the Division I prospect James Betz — to get it close late. And then Marcus Edwards hit a 3 with 38 seconds left to give Kingdom a two point advantage. After the Wolves missed the front end of a one-and-one on the other end Kingdom was in control, but a quick turnover on an inbound with 20 seconds to go gave the ball back to Wolves, and then the controversial foul call occurred. You can check out the foul, and the Malual near game-winner below.
Illinois Wolves' Bryce Hopkins knocked in two FTs w/1.5 secs left to win game. Here's the foul call @HardwoodEvents pic.twitter.com/uHUeXwiJWj
— TJ Rushing (@TjRushing) July 24, 2016
With KH 15U down two, Lino Malual almost puts in a game-winner in Elite 8 @HardwoodEvents https://t.co/aBQoNEB642
— TJ Rushing (@TjRushing) July 24, 2016
10:10 — Kingdom Hoops Elite 17U 79 vs Illinois Celtics 67
This was a sensational outing for a Kingdom Hoops Elite squad that was firing on all cylinders. Instead of getting down big early like they had the previous two games, they did the opposite. Douglas Wilson had 12 quick first half points to give his squad an early 23-11 lead. Drew Maschoff was going crazy after that, he finished with five 3s and a game-high 20 points. With six minutes to play Kingdom pushed the lead up to 20 and the running-clock rule was enforced. There were about 10 Division I coaches watching. A truly outstanding effort to launch the supremely talented team into the Final 4.
The Drew Maschoff show continues into the 2H, starts it with a bucket + foul, and then a deeeep 3. He's got 20 (five 3s)
— TJ Rushing (@TjRushing) July 24, 2016
Final 4
12:20 — Kingdom Hoops Elite 17U 87 vs Mokan Select (KS) 71
With three minutes left in the game, Kingdom Hoops point guard Trey Buchanan got a steal, broke free to the hoop, and went through his legs in mid-air to find Douglas Wilson for an alley-oop. It was a thing of beauty. Ten seconds later, Charley Crowley broke loose for a two-hand slam — plus he was fouled — igniting the crowd, and ending whatever slim chance Mokan had a making a late-game run. This team is firing on all cylinders right now, and with as many weapons as they have, any player can step-up at any given time. Tajen Ross was the leading scorer in this one with 20.
Sidenote: Mokan Elite EYBL was favored to win a title here, and they would likely have been the opponent for Kingdom in the title, but after a tedious three week schedule, they bowed out early. That leaves Team Penny 16U as the foe for Kingdom.
Trey Buchanan just went through his legs in mid-air and tossed a perfect alley-oop to Doug Wilson who eagerly slammed it home. Wow.
— TJ Rushing (@TjRushing) July 24, 2016
Silver Bracket Championship
1:25 — 17U: AFES 60 vs Quad City Soul 42
Fort Dodge’s Solomon Clayton started the rout, and Urbandale’s Trevor Miller finished it for this Iowa Cornshark and Fort Dodge High School hybrid squad. Clayton (6’4 2017) scored 10 points very early, and Miller (6’6 2017) finished with a game-high 25 for AFES, which went 4-1 this week in Lawrence. Quad City had some nice players too. Atticus Taylor is a Davenport North product with nice size and skill who will make some noise next season. And Pleasant Valley guard Trevon Montgomery showed flashes of why he was starting as a junior on a 4A state runner-up squad last season.