Vegas wrap-up: Indiana Elite takes 15u title
Indiana Elite took home the adidas Super 64 title today with a 80-67 victory
over Minnesota Pump N Run.
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Chandler White of Fort Wayne Carroll led all
scorers with 22 points and after the game was awarded the tourney MVP.
"He had several good games this tournament," said Adams. "He controlled his
emotions better and played hard."
Indianapolis Pike point guard Malik Bennett was also very tough in the final,
scoring 15 points, taking up the minutes of Hyron Edwards as the East Chicago
Central guard was hit in the eye and sat most of the second half.
"Hyron got hurt, Malik came in and really took over for us," said White after
the game.
The title capped a great offseason for this Indiana Elite squad as it took
home at least seven tournament championships and only lost three times, spring
and summer combined. It also showed the team had righted the ship after a
disappointing quarterfinal lost in early July in the adidas Invitational.
"It was getting back to what we did in April and May in terms of sharing the
ball, not looking up to see the coaches," said head coach Mark Adams. "In early
July we stopped making the extra pass."
Handling 6-foot-9, 210-pound
Henry Ellenson was the challenge in the
title game and Elite held him to 11 points. Ellenson already holds offers from
Minnesota, Iowa State, Marquette and Georgetown.
"That's the best big guy we've seen and we really did a good job on him,"
said Adams.
Earlier in the morning semifinals, Indiana Elite ran away with a 79-59 win
over Dream Vision out of California. White led with 14 and Bennett had nine and
Edwards seven.
The easy wins today were a welcome change after the team escaped Saturday
night with a thrilling 85-83 overtime win over FAST Elite from Oregon.
"That (game) last night scared us," said White. "We knew we had to come out,
be focused and play as good as we could."
Adams agreed.
"That (win) helped today," said the IE coach. "That was a good win last night
because they were blowing out teams. The guys rely on each other and I might be
nervous but they don't seem to be."
Other final day notes
Another team with Hoosier targets took home the 16 & under title. The
Louisville Magic, behind 2014 No. 10 D'Angelo Russell, knocked off the
Compton Magic in the title game, 65-58. Earlier in the semifinals the Louisville
team eliminated the Eric Gordon All-Stars, 65-57. Russell and Louisville commit
Quentin Snider shared the tournament MVP award. Another key all week
for that team was the improved play of 6-foot-5 wing shooter
Jordan Green from Henry Clay High School.
A morning loss also ended the summer for the older Eric Gordon All-Stars team
featuring Indiana commits
and Collin Hartman. In
an adidas Super 64 17 & under quarterfinal, EG fell to New Heights NYC, 64-60.
That's the same team that eliminated the Indiana team in early July at the
adidas Invitational.
Davis had 11 points on 3-for-8 field goals and 5-for-6 free throws. He added
about eight rebounds. The future Hoosier made a huge steal late in the game that
was followed by a pretty reverse left hander that tied the game at 51. He then
drew a charge at the other end but then picked up a technical for trash talking
that did give up a free throw and possession of the ball at a key moment.
Hartman had about four or five rebounds but missed both shots from the field
and two first half free throws and was scoreless in the quarterfinal game.
Michigan commit Zak Irvin led Eric Gordon with 18 points and North Central's
Darius Latham added 10.
Hoosier power forward targets
both led their teams into Sunday semifinal games of two tournaments out here but
had their summers end there.
Vonleh had 19 points this morning to lead Mass Rivals over Minnesota Pump N
Run in the adidas Super 64 17 & under quarterfinals. Then in the semifinals Mass
Rivals led through most of the game only to fall to New Heights NYC in a low
scoring game, 48-41.
Lee had a big week for his Cal Supreme at the Big Foot Hoops Las Vegas
Classic including a 31-point outburst last night in the round of 16. But a
stifling Houston Hoops defense held him to six points this afternoon and the
California team fell in the semifinals, 71-57. Houston Hoops would go on to
defeat Mac Irvin Fire in overtime in the 17 & under title game, 54-53.
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