Thursday, May 29, 2014

Excel Takes Spiece Run & Slam

Excel-Spiece Run & Slam Champions
This past weekend, May 24-26th, several Ohio teams played in Ft. Wayne in the Spiece Memorial Day Run and Slam Tournament.  The was a 8th Grade Division was stacked with some of the top teams from all over Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Illinois.  The final four included The Family (Detroit) vs. King James with King James pulling out a squeaker winning by 2 points on a missed three pointer at the buzzer.  Excel played nationally ranked Chicago Select in their semi-final and came from behind in the second half led by Isaiah Speelman, Dane Goodwin and Braden Norris to win 48-45.  The championship was an All-Ohio mach up between NE Ohio King James and Central Ohio Excel.  

The game was back in fourth but Excel came from behind again in the last couple minutes to tie the game and eventually win in overtime 54-48.  The bulk of the scoring was again Speelman, Goodwin and Norris, but as with the Chicago Select game, there were huge contributions by the whole team defensively and on the boards.  This was Excel's fourth consecutive tournament win at the Run and Slam, which they were told may not have been done previously.  It also is expected to be Excel's last year of existence so they will likely not be able to defend their title next year.

This brings Excel's record to 22-1 for the season including winning the Nike Grassroots, Cincinnati Super Regional, Spiece Run and Slam among others.  Excel also has had two wins over nationally ranked teams (Chicago Select and George Hill) as well as two wins over a top 5 state ranked ninth grade team with their only defeat against an 8th grade team coming vs. 5th ranked DC Premier by 3.



17 comments:

  1. Several teams will get a crack at them this weekend at the state tourney in cincy this weekend. They have to be the favorite to win it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Excel just won the 14u state tournament. They only had 1 hard game all weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hats off to the Excel team. I saw a few of there games this weekend and they had more than one hard game that is for sure. But that group is tough. Ive seen alot of AAU ball over alot of years and not many do it as well as them. They are a true team and they can play the game. Fun to watch. Deserving champions

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hats off to Tier 1. Played very well and played hard start to finish. Great semi final game!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Not impressed with Team Excel they had more than 1 hard game in cincy got a lot breaks that just went there way.We have several teams in cincy that can handle them in cincy lakers,royals or unity.

    ReplyDelete
  6. It was a amazing experience to visit this website and read the articles and contents.

    Womens Basketball in USA & college basketball usa

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ha, lakers and royals? Not a chance in hell.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree. Maybe they win 1 of 10 games.

      Delete
  8. Would like to see a AOR 7th v Excel matchup

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AOR 7TH grade would beat em, Excel too slow for those guys!

      Delete
    2. Aor 7th grade can't beat the top five 8th grade teams the only one they can beat is there own 8th grade team

      Delete
    3. The only team Aor 7th grade team can beat is there own 8th grade team they can't beat the top 5 8th grade teams.

      Delete
  9. Lol here we go again

    ReplyDelete
  10. Why will this be their last year together?

    ReplyDelete