Date: July 16, 2009 at 00:38

The 17U Knights suffered just their third setback on the season after 16 wins losing in the championship game of the U-Turn Warriors Summertime Shootout 66-63 to the 16U Knights. The 16U Knights have been on a roll winning 7 of their last 11 games after an 0-7 start to the season. Although shorthanded due to high school team camps that claimed the services of starters Joe Hassell and TaShawn Griffen along with Juandrico Walker, the Knights took advantage of the opportunity to see the future, and they liked what they saw. With what actually was a younger team on the floor than their opponents for much of the game (three 15U players and two 16's), the 17U Knights made a pair of impressive runs with DeQuan Rivera, Kendall Holmes, Tyrice Thomas, Chad Todd and Terry Jackson in the lineup. A combination of these six Knights of the future actually outscored the 16U Knights by 6 points but the Knights veterans struggled to match that intensity. With the big three (Robert Thomas, Johnnie Ferebee, and Marquis Barfield) drawing much deserved attention, the Knights could not find an answer for 6'3 forward Quentin Duncan who had a season high 15 points while also reaching double figures in rebounding. The 16U Knights rode what was an impressive effort for Duncan who battled inside against a pair of honorable mention All Southeastern District picks in Tracy Elliott and Steve Woods and proved to be the difference maker as the 16U Knights claimed the tournament title. Tyrice Thomas was dazzling in leading the Knights with 15 points hitting on a combination of drives to the basket and pinpoint three point shooting, while Alonzo Holmes capped off a hot shooting afternoon with 13 points on 5 of 7 shooting from the floor.
Scoring: Thomas 15, A. Holmes 13, K. Holmes 10, Elliott 9, Rivera 5, Woods 4, Coles 4, Daniels 3.




Images from the U-turn Warriors Summer JamFest