July 17, 2023
By Morgan Wenger
Tournament Director

Everyone in the 8th Grade division took their shots at the Ringerz during pool play, but nobody could get over the hump to take them down. The Ringerz took down Risen Elite 30-23 behind 13 points from Darrius Howard and nine points each from Jack Thomas and Adrian Jelks. JJ Bedingfield scored a game high 14 points for Risen Elite in defeat. The next game would be the closest anyone came to the Ringerz all day as the Panthers pushed them hard all the way to the final buzzer before the Ringerz escaped with a hard fought 21-18 victory. Jack Thomas (eight points) and Adrian Jelks (seven points) led the way for the Ringerz, while Joe Luchitz scored nine points to pace the Panthers. The last team in line to challenge the favored Ringerz were the Smithie Ballers. Brady Sidle (12 points) fired in four three pointers to keep his team attached throughout the game, but Jack Thomas (12 points) was unstoppable going to the basket and the Ringerz pulled away late for a 30-24 win. Javon Mosley made two three pointers as part of his eight-point total for the Ringerz as well.

With the top seed already claimed, the battle for the second seed produced a tight game between Risen Elite and the Panthers. In a fierce battle between two balanced, talented teams Risen Elite was able to claim the second seed with a 30-26 victory behind a 12-point effort from Ricky Branham and 10 points from Jaxson Hall. Joe Luchitz and Mason Perdue both scored 10 points in a losing effort for the Panthers.

Brady Sidle’s 13-point outburst against Lightning in a quarterfinal bracket play game ensured Smithie Ballers of another shot at the top seeded Ringerz. Lightning was led by Cooper Baker’s 10 points in the 30-17 defeat. The Ringerz were hitting their stride at this point though. They played perhaps their best game of the day in dispatching Smithie Ballers 30-4 in the semifinals. Jack Thomas and Darrius Howard led the way for the Ringerz with 10 and eight points respectively as they propelled their team into the championship round. The Panthers and Risen Elite locked horns again in the other semifinal. Joe Luchitz put his team on his back this time around, exploding for a 20-point performance to vault his Panther team into the championship game via a 30-23 win. Jake Rothhaar hit three of the five three pointers that Risen Elite made during the game to contribute to his 11-point performance in the loss.

Ringerz guard Javon Mosley probes the Panthers defense while Alex Rohr defends

The championship games are often the most competitive games in each division. With the Ringerz seemingly getting stronger in every round, that was not the case in the 8th Grade division. The Panthers battled hard during the early stages of the championship game as they tried to turn the tables on the 21-18 setback they had endured against the Ringerz during pool play. The Ringerz, behind stellar play from Adrian Jelks (11 points) and Darrius Howard (10 points), cracked the code of the Panthers defense and ran away with a 30-12 championship game rout. XJ Wohlheter led the Panthers with five points.

Ringerz (Adrian Jelks, Jack Thomas, Javon Mosley, Darrius Howard)

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