Grit Region Finals: Scotty B’s Sunday Notebook

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sunday wrapped up the Grit Region Finals in Chicago.&nbsp; As all weekend we finished at the 17U level in Barrington with an exciting day of hoops.&nbsp; Come along with us as we take you through what we saw on the final day in <strong>Grit Region Finals: Scotty B's Sunday Notebook</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2029 Guard Emerges in [program_tooltip program_id='2219307' first='1' last='Dream Basketball'] 2 Win to Open Day</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the first game of the day we saw 1 Dream 2 win against Brook Town Force by a final of 79-57.&nbsp; There were some known names and new ones for the victors.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2835996' first='Raleigh' last='Hays'] burst on our radar with a strong performance as a 2029 playing up three age levels.&nbsp; The St. Anne combo guard played with poise and confidence.&nbsp; He attacked the rim for soft touch finishes, baseline takes, and creativity in the open floor getting downhill.&nbsp; Also had a few nice passes and overall played really hard while scoring 12 points.&nbsp; His high school teammate [player_tooltip player_id='2835956' first='Matthew' last='Langellier'] in the class of 2026 also made an impression as a 5'10” lead guard that was active defensively, pushed in the open floor, and had a crisp mid-range game.&nbsp; Finished with 18 points.&nbsp; Kankakee 2026 wing Eli Cunningham was a great glue guy as a 6'3” two guard that rebounded well, played excellent defense, and finished with toughness in the paint for 14 points.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2437681' first='Richie' last='Darr'] of Bishop McNamara is the highest ranked prospect on this squad.&nbsp; The skilled four man showed that off with turnaround jumpers, takes from the mid-post, and swatting a ton of shots netting 15 points himself.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Brook Town Force they got a strong effort out of their lead guard from Indiana Henry Davis.&nbsp; The strong and compact lead guard was a bucket getter with acrobatic finishes through and around contact.&nbsp; He also hit some tough floaters along with a pair of corner threes for 26 points.&nbsp; Addison Trail guard [player_tooltip player_id='2406256' first='Marcello' last='Saraceno'] chipped in 12 points in the loss.&nbsp; The guard was a solid three point shooter along with getting to the line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>McDuffy Comes Up Huge for 2 Face Elite in Narrow Win vs [program_tooltip program_id='2078408' first='Team' last='Rose']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The game between 2 Face Elite and [program_tooltip program_id='2078408' first='Team' last='Rose'] came down to the wire with 2 Face Elite scoring the win 47-45.&nbsp; The difference maker in this game was the play of Jazire McDuffy.&nbsp; The Davenport North (IA) 6'2” small forward was an absolute force scoring in the paint all game long.&nbsp; Such a tremendous knack for posting up, finishing through contact, getting on the offensive glass, and fighting for everything he got in a 10 point performance.&nbsp; Davenport West (IA) guard Jonathan Dockery is a 5'9” guard that knocked in a couple threes en route to 10 points as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Plainfield East standout [player_tooltip player_id='1552473' first='Alijah' last='Little'] was the star for his [program_tooltip program_id='2078408' first='Team' last='Rose'] squad.&nbsp; The shooting guard has good size and three level scoring ability.&nbsp; That was on full display as he had 22 points in the loss.&nbsp; Crisp mid-range pull up game and was excellent getting to the cup for scores.&nbsp; Curie 2028 point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2877501' first='Malik' last='Horton'] chipped in with 14 points including pouring in four from beyond the arc.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>VIP Kings Set Tone for Day with Dominant Win over [program_tooltip program_id='2078374' first='Full' last='Package'] White in Quarterfinals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The VIP Kings out of Kentucky showcased more of what was to come in their 71-49 quarterfinal victory against [program_tooltip program_id='2078374' first='Full' last='Package'] White.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2389668' first='Garrison' last='Gilvin'] continues to be standout from Trinity (KY).&nbsp; The 6'3” 2027 shooting guard was at his best in this game finishing out of the dunker spot, winning on straight line takes, drives off fake dribble handoffs, and hit multiple threes for 23 points.&nbsp; Reece Ridnor showcased his sweet three point stroke in this one as the lefty poured in three of them en route to 11 points. [player_tooltip player_id='2387589' first='Drew' last='Campbell'] had 12 points in the victory while their big man [player_tooltip player_id='1543611' first='Keefe' last='Braziel'] chipped in 8 points with his second jump and finishing out of dunker spot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chicago Prospects Shine for [program_tooltip program_id='2075957' first='The' last='Work Foundation']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Next up was an impressive performance by [program_tooltip program_id='2075957' first='The' last='Work Foundation'] grabbing a W 68-25 over [program_tooltip program_id='2075314' first='Big' last='3 Basketball'] 2.&nbsp; Simeon guard [player_tooltip player_id='2864928' first='Jesse' last='House'] has really emerged with a strong spring.&nbsp; Wiry lead guard in the 2026 class that can really shoot the basketball.&nbsp; He poured in five triples in the win netting 15 points.&nbsp; In the backcourt next to him Walter Payton Prep 2028 guard [player_tooltip player_id='2531979' first='CJ' last='Pittman'] got it rolling in the second half with his creative scoring in transition and getting after it on defense for 13 points.&nbsp; Up front De La Salle power forward [player_tooltip player_id='2323326' first='Jordan' last='Shaw'] displayed a strong frame snatching rebounds for put backs on the regular along with a nice hook shot for 12 points.&nbsp; Intrigued with the long term upside of Lincoln Park 6'5” power forward [player_tooltip player_id='2837979' first='Jayden' last='Townsend'].&nbsp; Quick second jump and is a fluid athlete that had 7 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='2075258' first='ABC' last='Young Lions'] Advance to 17U Final with Balanced Performance</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We then turned our attention back to the championship bracket as [program_tooltip program_id='2075258' first='ABC' last='Young Lions'] knocked off The Academy Blue 60-50 in the semis to advance to the championship game.  Their backcourt brought it in this one for ABC as the Wisconsin squad got a big time outing from both Harold Frye and Xavier Warren.  Frye is an intense lead guard on both ends of the floor.  Pressure defense getting steals for points on the other end.  He attacks the hoop with force and finished with his compact build.  Xavier Warren came alive in the second half.  Smooth lead guard that won off the bounce with slithery drives for acrobatic finishes at the net.  Ewell Clinton Jr came up big inside for [program_tooltip program_id='2075258' first='ABC' last='Young Lions'] in the win.  Well built post that is light on his feet finishing out of the dunker spot, rim running, and showing touch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For The Academy Blue their top performer was Zerry Rue.&nbsp; The Michigan wing was an assertive scorer that hit multiple jumpers, mixed in some floaters, and used his quick second jump for scores on the offensive glass.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>VIP Kings Take Home 17U Crown</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the championship game of the 17U division it was Kentucky based VIP Kings against Wisconsin's [program_tooltip program_id='2075258' first='ABC' last='Young Lions'].&nbsp; The team that impressed us all weekend did so once again in the championship game winning by a final of 71-49 to win the Grit Region Championship!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->