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| 2022 SMAC Akron Elite |
Although
there are several SMAC teams in the state, the Akron-based 2022 SMAC Akron
Elite squad appears to have been flying under the radar so far this season. According to Coach Tim Sams, his team
consists of four boys who previously played for Ed Heben’s Shooting Stars team
for the last two years plus several other boys in the surrounding
Cleveland/Akron/Canton area. In fact, the SMAC roster includes: Connor Sams (Wadsworth), Drew Dossi (Wooster), Luke Denbow (Ashland), Zack Oddo (Green), Aiden Palmer (Revere), Cade Henne (North Canton), Nate Francine (Tulsa), Brayden Hamilton (Brunswick), and Hunter Geissinger (North Canton).
So far this
year, SMAC Akron Elite 2022 has a record of 20-6 with two tournaments
wins in their last two tournaments played: (TNBA’s Make it Rain- Cleveland 7th
Grade Division (March 31at-April 2nd) and BSA’s Hoopfest in
Pittsburgh April 21st-23rd). SMAC Akron Elite also has a
runner-up finish earlier in the year in Dublin at the Dot.Com Classic after a
2-point loss to Eastside Elite (Newark).
Apparently, five
out the six of SMAC losses this year were decided in the last minute of
play. This list included two close games at the Nike All Ohio Grass Roots
in Columbus; a 2-point loss to the Family 2022 (Detroit) and a 3-point loss to Indiana’s
Always 100. In their opening tournament of the season, SMAC
suffered a 6-point loss to Ed Heben’s TNBA Shooting Stars in the early March
Cleveland tournament. In addition, during
the Nike Grass Roots tourney in Columbus a few weeks ago, SMAC Akron Elite defeated the North Coast Blue Chips by 2 points along
with All-Ohio White 2022 in Pool Play.
In TNBA’s
Make it Rain tournament, SMAC Akron Elite 2022 defeated Chicago’s Made Men
(Iman Shumpert’s team) in the final game by 2 points (67-69) in the Gold
Championship. SMAC Akron Elite 2022 had blowout wins in bracket play on
Sunday over NC Running Rebels (83-28) and also enjoyed a big margin of
victory against Lake Shore 185 (56-30) in the semi-final game.
In the Basketball
Stars of America (BSA)’s Pittsburgh Hoopfest last week, SMAC Akron Elite 2022
defeated South Jersey Jazz 7th Grade
(68-26) in the semi-final game on Sunday in the Gold Division, and beat Fayette
Finest (58-28) in the Gold championship game. In pool play, SMAC Akron
Elite defeated BSA-Dizon (59-21), BSA Carr Elite (50-29), and Shut Em Down- New
Castle (53-29).
According to Coach Sams, "...the team is extremely athletic and prefers to play at a fast pace by pushing the ball on offense and applying full-court pressure on defense." In addition,
SMAC Akron Elite 7th grade
plans to enter the Buckeye Prep Summer Showdown in Columbus June 16th – June 18th this
year. Plus, they will enter several other local tournaments.
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