Only a day after beating perennial national power Christ the King (Middle Village, NY) Oak Ridge (TN) defeated H. D. Woodson 69-52 to advance to the semi-final’s of the Nike Tournament of Champions in Phoenix, AZ. Oak Ridge scored fifteen of the first twenty points in the game and forty-two second half points in the win. Kortni Jones led Oak Ridge with 19 points in the victory. Jones is no stranger to winning and was a key contributor on the Tennessee Flight travel team which won the Nike National Championship last summer. Jones will play at Middle Tennessee State next season for legendary Coach Rick Insell and looks to be one of the top incoming players in the Sun Belt Conference. Junior, Jazzmin Hazzard added 21 points for Oak Ridge as well.
Oak Ridge will face Bolingbrook (IL) who beat Chaminade Julienne (OH) 48-39 in one semi-final Saturday at 6:00 PM. Bolingbrook led at the end of each quarter and junior sensation Samari Walker was only able to do so much before the Raiders pulled away in the last few minutes of the game. Freshman Morgan Tuck has been sensational all week for Bolingbrook and is a strong candidate for the top freshman in the Joe Smith Division.
On the other side of the bracket Regis Jesuit (CO) defeated Wesleyan (GA) 63-52 behind a host of Division I talent. Pepperdine signee T’Keyah Shealy led Regis with 9 first half points and finished with 22 points in the contest. Georgia signee Ann Marie Armstrong was in foul trouble much of the game and was limited on the level of impact she could have in the game.
Regis will face a strong Cardinal O’Hara (PA) team which dispatched of St. Mary’s (CA) behind Vanderbilt signee Stephanie Holzer’s 29 points. Chelsea Gray led St. Mary’s with 17 points. St. Mary’s will fall to the 5th place bracket and face Wesleyan tomorrow at 1:30 PM.
When Giants Fall They Fall Hard
Many people were shocked yesterday when Christ the King (NY) and Long Beach Poly (CA) lost yesterday in the opening round of the Tournament of Champions, but today both teams still go away without a win. Christ the King fell to Clovis West in the consolation bracket as did Long Beach Poly to Riverdale Baptist. Many experts had Long Beach Poly and Christ the King as the favorites in the Joe Smith Division and now both teams are just hoping to leave with as many wins as losses.
Not only did giants fall hard in the Joe Smith Division but Centennial (NV) beat National Power Oak Hill Academy (VA) today. Oak Hill was slated to be an early favorite in the Mike Desper Division but suffers its third loss of the season and will face Highlands Ranch (CO) tomorrow.
Still Rolling
Mater Dei (CA) continued rolling getting up 25-5 and 45-13 on the way to an easy quarter final win over Highlands Ranch (CO). Mater Dei will face Centennial tomorrow. After seeing most of the bracket it is likely that Mater Dei would be in the semi-final of the Joe Smith Division if they had been placed in that bracket. Mater Dei features three major Division I underclassmen led by sophomore Kaleena Lewis who may be the top player in the entire event.
Super Saturday
Tomorrow’s semi-finals include Regis Jesuit versus Cardinal O’Hara and Oak Ridge versus Bolingbrook.
Oak Ridge versus Boling Brook
Oak Ridge has been the Cinderella of the event so far knocking of H. D. Woodson and Christ the King. Oak Ridge has been successful rebounding out of their zone in both games so far but will face super frosh Morgan Tuck on Bolingbrook who has owned the paint in the Raider’s first two games. Look for Kortni Jones to be the key again for Oak Ridge, if Jones continues to play at the highest level Oak Ridge has a great chance to win. If Jones gets in foul trouble or is neutralized by sophomore point guard Ariel Massengale then it could be a long day for Oak Ridge.
Prediction: Oak Ridge by 6
Cardinal O’Hara versus Regis Jesuit
On paper both teams look dominant, boasting more then 10 Division 1 committed or signed players between the two teams. Stephanie Holzer should control the middle for O’Hara but the point guard battle goes to Regis Jesuit who has Mariah Williams (UCLA). O’Hara’s weakness falls to the point guard position and for them to win they need more then 5 points out of Maryland commit Natasha Cloud. If Cloud steps up to be the player she should be and Holzer controls the middle then we will see a battle of undefeated teams in the Tournament of Champions Championship game on Monday.
Prediction: O’Hara by 9