Monday, June 11, 2012

Wildcats Take 6th Grade Title

Pickerington Wildcats-6th Grade Champions


Over the weekend, Allen Henderson’s 6th grade Pickerington Wildcats finished undefeated on their way to the championship of the Joe Riggins Jr. Memorial Pre-National Tournament in Dayton. In pool play, the Wildcats defeated the Dayton Nets/Buckeye Prep (13 points) and The Mr. Basketball Academy (4), Dayton Pilots. In bracket play, Pickerington downed the Dayton Nets for a second time (20) and the Dayton Pilots (20) in the championship game. Although the Wildcats got it done on the strength of “team play and execution,” according to Henderson, the team’s reserves “came off the bench and played their tails off.”  Those reserves included Jalen Mitchell and Nick Giardina. What’s interesting to note, the Wildcats played the entire weekend without Isaiah Speelman and Dondre Palmer, the team’s starting wing and center. In addition, Pickerington picked up Dayton’s Antwon Johnson for the weekend.

I have to give a shout out to Damon Stringer’s Mr. Basketball Academy (MBA) who traveled down from northeast Ohio in search of competition. Ohio basketball fans may remember Stringer, as he was a standout for Cleveland Heights, was named Ohio’s Mr. Basketball in 1995, and went on to play with Ohio State and Cleveland State. With an overall season record of 32-8, Stringer’s 6th grade squad has established themselves as one of the top 3 or 4 teams in the northeast area.  This weekend, MBA finished 3rd behind the Dayton Pilots and the Wildcats, but played both teams closely. It should be noted, MBA was missing Johnny Bigsby, the team’s second leading scorer, due to a hip injury. Deion Burton and Derrick Veasley Jr. were both standouts for MBA. For the season, MBA’s resume includes a win over #10 Dayton Nets/Buckeye Prep, a split with #7 King James, and a 4 point loss to both  #6 Pickerington and the Dayton Pilots.

In the 7th grade division, Brooks Hall’s Next Level squad closed their season on a positive note, with a lopsided victory over the Columbus Braves (30) in the championship game of the same tournament. Next level blew by Dayton Nets-Turner (30+), Ohio Varsity, Dayton Pilots B, and Columbus Crusaders before dispatching the Braves in the title game. Danny Davis, L’Christian Smith, Keegan Seban and Ryan Proffit were all standouts for Next Level. Hall’s team finished the summer with an impressive 40-4 over all record. For those wondering, as is the case with a number of kids this time of year, Hall mentioned that Smith and Seban will be heading down to the AAU nationals with the Indy Hoosiers.

Congratulations to the 7th grade Cincinnati Royals for winning the Louisville Legends Classic in Louisville, Kentucky this past weekend. On championship Sunday, the Royals defeated Indiana Elite South (46-38), Focus (63-46) and Rob D’s Elite (71-48). Standouts for the Royals included Matt & Dan Sichterman, Sean Clifford, Matt King and Jaeden Orr


All-Ohio Red-5th Grade MIT Champs


Congratulations to All-Ohio Red 5th graders for getting it done at the Maryland Invitational Tournament in Baltimore. This tournament has traditional attracted a strong field. This team just keeps on winning!

11 comments:

  1. Is that next level team from cleveland

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  2. all around dayton area

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  3. I think Antwuan Johnson is a great pick up for the Pickerton Wildcats I remember him when he orginally played with All Ohio Red 3yrs ago. Welcome back to Columbus Antwuan .

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  4. Who all diz dat next level team lose to

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  5. I know 3 of them Indy Hoosiers (#1 team in nation), Columbus Crusaders (beat the 3 more times), and AI9 Elite (#4 team in naton). Don't know other.

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  6. Next Level Has lost to AI9 Elite twice(Once at King James and once in Indy). That's their 4th loss. Fot the record NL has beat the Crusaders twice since the first loss.

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  7. who better the murphy ac knights or NL

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  8. I think Murphy AC would get Next Level by a few. Good game though. Two best point guards in the state, Schmock,Sabean. Difference would be Jaylen harris. Nobody in the state can stop him.

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  9. Gotta go with Murphy. They should be #1. Not sure what more they could have done to make their case.

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