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by Published on 04-03-2013 09:21 PM Number of Views: 4115
CHICAGO - Last year, at the United Center, the West team lost a heartbreaking game by a point in the McDonald's All-American game. They returned the favor this year with a 92-64 runaway victory in the 12th annual girls meeting, April 3.
It was your usual all-star game with up-tempo play and a little sloppiness. The Addidas-designed red uniforms worn by the East and the green uniforms worn by the West made both teams look like Christmas colors.
Rebecca Greenwell, who's headed for Duke, got the West team off to a hot start with her outside shooting. One of her threes allowed the West to enjoy their biggest lead of the first half of 18 points at 31-13.
Greenwell had an unfortunate moment late in the half that ended her night. Greenwell interecepted a pass from the East's Lindsay Allen. As she drove for a layup and got fouled by the East's Kaela Davis, her right knee buckled. Greenwell, who wore a big brace on the knee, limped off the court and didn't return. It was later revealed that Greenwell re-injured her MCL and will get it checked out. Her absence motivated the West as they took a 45-35 lead into the locker room.
"When (Greenwell) hit her first two threes, we started to motivate her," Linnae Harper, from Chicago's Whitney Young, said. "We encouraged her to keep shooting. That opened up a lot of the court and that got her confidence up."
Greenwell, who left the game with eight points, going 3-for-5 from the field and 2-for-3 from beyond the arc, played the role of cheerleader the rest of the game. "Even when (Greenwell) got hurt, we cheered her up," said Harper. "She helped a lot."
Somehow, the East went backwards from their late first half surge and let the 10-point deficit get bigger in the second half. Mercedes Russell had everything go her way in the game. The 6-foot-5 future Tennessee Volunteer player had 16 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks and earned MVP of the game. The only thing that didn't go Russell's way was the loss by the Vols by Louisville in the NCAA Regional Finals with a trip to the Final Four on the line.
"That (game) was very interesting because those were my last two schools (that were on my list)," she said. "We (Tennessee) didn't come out to win. I thought it was a pretty good game the first half."
The 28-point waxing by the East was the worst defeat since the East beat the West by 29 points (105-76) in the 2007 game at Louisville's Freedom Hall.by Published on 04-01-2013 01:39 AM
In a stunning move that will bring about a new day for men's basketball, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Athletic Director Andy Geiger announced Monday that effective immediately, men's basketball home games will be played ...by Published on 03-31-2013 09:20 PM Number of Views: 4900
Once again, the top selected high school senior boys and girls players will invade the United Center this Wednesday, April 3. This will be the third straight year the contests will be held at the UC. The house that Michael Jordan built will host the games through at least 2015.
There are reasons, I think, why Chicago is the best location for the McDonald's All-American events. The city is the major transportation hub of the midwest. The UC attendance records the last two years were off the charts. Almost 37,000 people attended the games there the last two years.
In 2011, the United Center broke the all-time attendance record with 20,019, in part because Anthony Davis, a local product, Kentucky and NBA rookie, participated. It was also the first time the UC hosted the games.
It's important that if the McDonald's committee is going to have the games in the Windy City, they will have to consider a Chiacgo-area high school player, male and/or female. It would be considered an insult if the all-star games are in Chicago and no local players was selected to the boys and girls teams.
There was criticism from Chicago Public League officials because no boys player from that league was represented in last year's contest. They have representation this year in 6-foot-8 Jabari Parker of Chicago Simeon, who is headed to Duke. On the women's side, Whitney Young's Linnae Harper will showcase her skills before she's off to Kentucky. The way I see it, The CPL will be happy as long as they have someone in the league represented in the games.
At last summer's NY2LA Summer Jam in Mequon, I paid attention to two brothers who played on the Houston-area AAU team. Twin brothers Andrew and Aaron Harrison played well in that tournament, and I had the feeling at that time that either one or both of the brothers would get some McDonald's All-American consideration. My prediction was correct. Both of them got picked to the West team.
So what does that say about the consideration for Wisconsin high school senior basketball players? They have more of a basketball resume than some of the guys on the roster from the East and West teams. Luke Fischer led his Germantown team to back-to-back state championships and a 56-game winning streak. Bronson Koenig led his La Crosse Aquinas team to a state title. Matt Thomas had a great year for Onalaska. Deonte Burton was steady for Milwaukee Vincent. They were on the watch list, but they weren't picked to the team.
The player with a better chance to make the McDonald's All-American team in 2014 from Wisconsin is Milwaukee Hamilton's Kevon Looney. The 6-8 junior is one of the top 10 juniors in the country. If he doesn't make it, then it's a shame. The same would be said for sophomore sensation Arike Ogunbowale from DSHA if she's overlooked two years from now.
I'll be in attendance for both the boys and girls games, so look for an update from Chicago later in the week.by Published on 03-31-2013 12:09 PM
When freshman Brian Keller got Valparaiso's Spencer Mahoney to ground out, the Milwaukee Panthers whooped and hollered for another victory in the young Horizon League season. It was a dominating performance on the weekend for Milwaukee, who took the preseason pick for ...by Published on 03-30-2013 02:58 PM
ELITE EIGHT!!!!...
3:30 tip
GAME ON!!!!!!
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Justby Published on 03-29-2013 06:13 PM
THE MODERATOR: We have Marquette with us, head Coach Buzz Williams, Chris Otule, Trent Lockett, Juan Anderson, Junior Cadougan and Vander Blue. We will have an opening statement from Coach.
COACH WILLIAMS: Excited to be here, thankful to be here. Much respect to Coach Jim Boeheim and their team. Glad to be representing the Big East with Coach Boeheim.
THE MODERATOR: Questions for our student athletes.
Q. Vander and Junior, the way Syracuse plays zone defense, is that almost a one off preparation, compared to the way you prepare for other teams?
JUNIOR CADOUGAN: I mean, we played Syracuse before and we play against a lot of teams that play zone against us this season and that obviously prepares us to play Syracuse anytime we play 'em. Because we will be in the comfort zone by then from the teams we played zone against.
VANDER BLUE: I think it's ...by Published on 03-28-2013 07:37 PM
Marquette and Miami are underway in DC in a battle for a spot in the Elite Eight...
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