Ohio Teams Make Mark at AAU Nationals

By Thursday, four Ohio 16-U teams had punched their ticket to the Sweet 16 at the AAU Nationals in Orlando. Ohio Varsity is in the Final Four vs. BABC Sophomore, the No. 1 rated team in the U.S. In some rankings. All Ohio Red played Ohio Hoopsters in a consolation game  yesterday after both teams made the Elite 8 but lost their quarterfinal games. Team CBIZ led BABC at halftime on Thursday but lost by 10, putting them in a consolation bracket where they could still finish 9th overall if they win out. Bottom line, no other state has done as well as the Buckeye State in the 16-U event. 

On Friday, with their 36-38 loss to Xpression Elite, Team CBIZ fell one game short from playing for 9th and 12th place. All-Ohio Red defeated the Ohio Hoopsters Cash 65-54 in quarter final action, and will play the 5th/6th place game today against the Garner Road Bulldogs. After loosing to BABC 51-29 in the semi finals, Ohio Varsity White will face the New York Guachos in the 3rd/4th place game later today. The Ohio Hoopsters Cash will match up with Risings Stars Gold in the 7th/8th place game early this morning.  Regardless of the final outcome, Ohio will place 3 teams in the top 10! Congratulations to all of the Ohio teams for an outstanding showing!!

In U-17 action, four Ohio teams lost second round games (King James Shooting Stars, All-Ohio Purple, Cincinnati Royals and Ohio Shooting Stars) and will play consolation bracket games later today. Hidden Gems Dahn plays its first round consolation bracket game later todaye as well. All-Ohio Red is still alive in championship bracket play after a 85-66 win over the Florida Rams yesterday.  Red will face Houston Hoops in the third round later today.