Nike Grassroots Tournament Final Day Report

All-Ohio Red 2019-9th Grade Champions

The final day of the Nike Grassroots Tournament featured several very competitive games.  Again, we spent our time camped out at Reynoldsburg High School where the 8^th and 9^th grade semi-finals and championship games were held.  In the 8^th grade championship game, The Family took down the Ohio Bulldogs 49-41. Romeo Weems (6’5/PF/2019/Detroit, MI) finished with 8 points on the way to MVP Honors, while  Tariq Shepard (5’6/PG/2019/Detroit, MI) was the game’s leading scorer with 18 points. Joining Weems and Shepard on the all-tournament team were Jalen Thomas (6’6/C/2019/Toledo, OH) and Charles Anderson (6’1/SG/2019/Warren, MI). For the Bulldogs, Dorian Holloway and Trehon Watkins were selected to the all-tournament team. In the semi final game, The Family got by GPU Steel Rivers by double digit.  The Pittsburgh, PA based GPU is powered by Keeno Arrington (6’0/PG/2019/Pittsburgh, PA) and Kyi Wright (6’3/WF/2019/Farrell, PA).

The 9^th grade semi-finals featured inter-family battles as Buckeye Prep Goodwin and Buckeye Prep-Lyshe faced off for organizational bragging rights.  Although the game was close early, Damon Goodwin’s squad would eventually cruise to a 58-33 victory.  Hilliard’s Isaiah Spellman (6’6/PF/2018/Hilliard Bradley) led all scorers with a game-high 17 points, while Dane Goodwin 6’3/WF/2018/Upper Arlington) finished with 16 points. Ed Lyshe’s team was led in scoring by Garrett Tipton (6’4/WF/2018/Bishop Hartley) with 8 points and Cameron Carlisle (5’11/SG/2018/Gahanna Lincoln) added 6 points.

The second semi final game proved to be slugfest as All-Ohio Red’s 2015 team collided with All-Ohio Red’s 2019 squad.  Nobody wants to get beat by little brother, but that’s exactly what happened as the 2019 team grabbed the win 60-51. Trotwood’s Amari Davis (6’2/WF/2019/Trotwood, OH) continued his outstanding play, finishing with 16 points.  Jeremiah Francis (6’1/PG/2019/Pickerington, OH) logged in a big game to the tune of 12 points, while Taylor Curry (6’7/C/2019/Westerville, OH) also added 12 markers. Springfield’s Darious Quisenberry (5’11/PG/2018/Tecumseh HS) paced the 2018 team with 15 points, followed by Yeal Hill’s 10 points.

 

The Family-8th Grade Champions

One of the best games we have see I a very long time was the 9^th grade championship game featuring Buckeye Prep Goodwin vs All-Ohio Red 2019.  This game offered great defensive plays, big time scoring, was played at an extremely high level and included a dramatic end.  If you will call, these 2 teams faced off on Saturday and appeared to end in a 71-71 tie.  However, the official scorebook reflected a score of 56-55 in favor of Buckeye Prep.  Needless to say, the All-Ohio folks were upset, and the championship game represented a chance to exact revenge.  The game was neck and neck throughout, with Buckeye Prep up 34-35 at the half. The game was tied at 64 with 6 seconds remaining when Taylor Curry went to the line to shoot 1 and 1 to win the game.  His shot missed the mark sending the game into overtime. All-Ohio scored first in overtime to go ahead 66-64. Isaiah Speelman knotted the game at the free throw line (66-66). A driving spin move by Andre Gordon put All-Ohio up 68-66. A Jeremiah Francis trey put All-Ohio up 71-70 with 16 seconds left.  Braden Norris had a final shot to win it, but it did not fall, giving All-Ohio the 71-70 win. The star of the game was Andre Gordon who wowed the crowd with big play after big play.  Gordon’s talent was on full display as he showed a mature game beyond his years. Gordon hit deep threes, hit id range fade away jumpers, attacked the cup and finished and defended at a high level. Gordon finished tied for game-high honors with 21 points. Both Amari Davis and Taylor Curry (6’6/C/2019/Worthington, OH) added 10 point.  Isaiah Speelman was the high man for Buckeye Prep with 21 points, followed by Braden Norris with 16 points and Dane Goodwin with 15 points.   

Although we did not get a chance to see the 6^th grade championship game, we do know that Kings James got by All-Ohio Purple in a close one to take the title. Seth Wilson (5’10/SG/2021/West Lake, OH), Jaineav Cameron (6’2/C/2021/Lima, OH), Jaden Hameed (5’8/WF/Macedonia, OH) and Noah Rittinger (5’6/PG/2021/WV) came up big for King James.  The final four match-ups included King James vs The Family and All-Ohio Purple vs Buckeye Prep 2021.  When we determine the 7^th grade champions we will update this report.

A. Gordon, I. Speelman, R. Weems, K. Arrington, T. Curry, G. Tipton, N. Berry, D. Quisenberry & C. Carlisle

Top Performers

Andre Gordon-All-Ohio Red 2019, Amari Davis-All-Ohio red 2019, Taylor Curry-All-Ohio Red 2019, Jeremiah Francis-All-Ohio Red 2019), Braden Norris-Buckeye Prep Goodwin, Isaiah Speelman-Buckeye Prep Goodwin, Dane Goodwin-Buckeye Prep Lyshe, Garrett Tipton-Buckeye Prep Lyshe, Collin Woodside-Buckeye Prep Lyshe, Cameron Carlisle-Buckeye Prep Lyshe, Darious Quisenberry-All-Ohio Red 2018, Yeal Hill-All-Ohio Red 2018, Kyi Wright-GPU Steel Rivers, Keeno Arrington-GPU Steel Rivers, Romeo Weems-The Family, Jalen Thomas-The Family, Tariq Shepard-The Family, Jordan Coovert-Dayton Metro, Noah Berry-CCG, Charles Anderson-Ohio Bulldogs, Trehon Watkins-Ohio Bulldogs, Dorian Holloway-Ohio Bulldogs and Zach Wilson-Ohio Bulldogs, Seth Wilson-King James 2021 and Noah Rittinger-King James, Elijah English-Buckeye Prep, Malachi Branham-Buckeye Prep, Jaden Hameed-King James, Montae Ware-All-Ohio Purple & Adrian Lawson-All-Ohio Purple.