BOSTON – The 2011 Hoopville Spring Finale is in the books. In terms of the end results, it mirrored last year’s tournament in that two programs dominated the championships. What was also similar is that a number of under-the-radar teams and players took advantage of the opportunity they had and played well.
The Expressions Elite program had a big weekend, taking home four of the six championships and being the runners-up in another. It started with their 12-Under team, which went 3-0 in a four-team round robin, while the 13-Under team defeated Prodigy Basketball 61-49 in the final to tip off Sunday morning.
In the 14-Under final, Juwan Gooding scored 20 points to lead Expressions Elite to a 61-55 win over the Greater Boston Lions. A talented point guard, Gooding has not yet decided on his high school for next year.
In the 15-Under final, BABC ran out to an early lead and never looked back in an 83-43 romp over the Greater Boston Lions. Curtis Cobb (6’3″ Fr. SG, Fall River (MA) Durfee HS) had the big game for BABC with 34 points, while Bonzie Colson (6’5″ Fr. PF, New Bedford (MA) St. Andrew’s) capped a fine weekend with 16 points and sparkplug point guard Jonathan Joseph (5’9″ Fr. PG, Brockton (MA) Southeastern Regional Voc. Tech) added 11 points and seven assists.
BABC also won the 16-Under final in a similar fashion, blowing out Expressions Elite by a score of 89-47 behind 26 points from Jaylen Brantley (So. PG, Springfield (MA) Wilbraham & Monson Academy) and 18 points from Wayne Selden (6’3″ Fr. SG, Roxbury (MA) Tilton School).
The 17-Under/Open final was a close game throughout the first half between Expressions Elite and Second 2 None. In the second half, Second 2 None opened up a 45-35 lead and looked to be on their way to taking home the title. But Expressions would finish the game on a 17-2 run to take home a 52-47 win. Akosa Maduegbunam (6’3″ Jr. SG, Charlestown (MA) High) led the way with 16 points, including a couple of crucial baskets during the game-ending run. Kareem Robinson (5’8″ Jr. PG, Chester (PA) High) led Second 2 None with 14 points to cap a good weekend.
Coming up shortly will be more notes on the tournament from all three days.
