Articles written by John Devaughn
On Tuesday, August, 2nd 2011 Metroball hosted tournamnet games to help the Mayor and MPD celebrate National Night out. These were our first night games of the season and they proved to be some of the best games of the season.
The Mayor stood us up but we still had a nice crowd and a good time!! The dunk contest was fun and the games were good!! We all came together as a neighborhood and it was like a family picnic!! Finally, after 11 years of the New York Ave. Tournament, it’s truly a community event that belongs to everyone that participates. The youth are the ones that make this event what it’s supposed to be. Metroball has love for all of you!!
Then came the games…
CCA Ballers faced off against Team Elite in our 12 and under show off. In the first half both teams played hard and hustled even harder. Low scoring in the first half lead to a 12-5 score at the half with Team Elite in the lead. Team Elite’s number 4 had big defensive stops in the 1st half but many more in the 2nd. Both teams were rushing shots and started to look fatigued and very sloppy. Team Elite held on to the lead with fewer than 3 minutes left to play in the game, but CCA Ballers didn’t give up any easy points. CCA Ballers eventually fell to Team Elite 23-17 and Team Elite earned 6 points for their win.
Tylerhouse 12 and under team defeated The Trojans in a high energy game. Back to back scoring in the 1st half caused a close scoring game with Tylerhouse leading by 7 points at the half, 18-11. They continued to run up the points in the 2nd half, while the Trojans began to look sloppy and in desperate need of a momentum change. Tylerhouse was up by 10 with less than 4 minutes left to play in the game, 29-19. The Trojans seized opportunities to steal the ball and change the game but could not capitalize with scoring on the other end. The final was 31-21 and Tylerhouse gained 10 points for their win.
UpTop Ballers met Tyler House on the blacktop in a very close 14-Under game where neither team wasn’t trying to give up any easy points. Back to back mistakes from both teams made a low scoring 1st half; TylerHouse 16 and UpTop Ballers 15. Both teams continued to give their all in the 2nd half and put points on the board. TylerHouse took their biggest lead of the game at 33-27 with less than 3 minutes in regulation, but UpTop Ballers came back to tie the game at 35 with under a minute left to play. Behind excellent play from D’Vonte Kay UpTop Ballers won by two points with the score 37-35 and they earned 2 points for their win.
Tyler House won against Metro Ball DC in a high energy and long awaited 16 and under game. Both teams came on to the court playing hard and taking strong shots. This made a very close and intense game, Tyler House began to take a lead with a 7-2 run leaving the score 15-6. They put the pressure on this undefeated Metroball DC team and didn’t stop!! Strong play from Demetrius with several steals, constant scoring from Rontrez, and strong blocks and rebounds from Brian showed that Tylerhouse wanted to defend their number 1 ranking. TylerHouse was up by 18 at the half, 10-28. Metroball DC showed that just because you’re down doesn’t mean you’re out. Hershell Grant began to constantly drive through the Tylerhouse defense and attack the rim with strong takes to the basket leading Metroball DC on a 7-0 run. They tried to get back in the game utilizing the big man, Maxie, in the paint. They played hard but they couldn’t close the scoring gap, they were still down by 10. The final score was 56-44 and TylerHouse gained 12 points for their win plus bragging rights for another week. This gave Metroball DC their first loss of the season and most likely cost them a chance at the number 1 seed in the playoffs next week.
