There were some quality teams in this GASO event, so it was satisfying to have two team from our Texas D-1 Ambassadors organization in the NBA Division of the Final Four.
GASO SEMI FINALS
Galveston Hornets 74 Texas D-1 Ambassadors Hargis 54
Team Hargis came out of the gate leading 16-4, but the talented Hornets kept their composure and kept draining three pointers as they rolled to the convincing win. Galveston's 2011 W Terran Pettaway is an extremely talented player who is at least a solid mid major who is on the cusp of high major status. He's long, athletic, can shoot it from the perimeter and can slash to the rim with ease.
Texas D-1 Ambassadors Hardge 79 San Antonio Legends 76 (OT)
As I mentioned here a day or two ago, this talented team has a habit of letting their foot off the gas pedal and letting teams back in games. A second half 15 point D-1 Ambassadors lead vanished because of scrappy play on the Legends part, coupled with some brutal officiating which inexplicably awarded 5 free throws and possession of the ball. Down 3 points with 5 seconds left to play and the other team with the basketball, D-1 kept their composure causing a turnover. 2012 PG Michael Hardge then tossed up a three pointer with a hand in his face as time expired and it banked in. He called "bank". I heard it.
Overtime was dominated by the D-1 Ambassadors G tandem of 2011 Deon Mitchell who finished with 18 points and spark plug Josiah Monroe 24, including five makes from behind the arc.
2012 G Mike Hardge (L) of Georgetown hit the clutch shot of the day to send the game into OT while Deon Mitchell who has been offered by Marquette had 18.
2011 W Max Yon of San Antonio Reagan of San Antonio Reagan was a tough matchup. He can shoot it deep and will clean up anything left around the rim. 2011 P 6'9" Anthony Walker of San Antonio Johnson was a load down low. He has a great body, and is skilled around the goal.
GASO NBA SILVER CHAMPIONSHIP
Texas D-1 Ambassadors-Team Josephs 91 ATX Putnam 75
Team Josephs was shorthanded this weekend and after winning the top division of an earlier GASO Tournament this year found themselves in an odd position. Two one point losses in pool play banished them to the Silver Brackets. The old adage of it's "not how you start, but how you finish" was taken to heart as they reeled off 3 straight bracket wins bumping off ATX-Parrish in the semis and then cruising past ATX-Putnam in the Silver Championship.
Backcourt mates Jacob Palacios and Adam Perez of San Antonio Clark put up 22 and 16 respectively in the championship game.
2011 W/P Ansley Benjamin (L) of San Antonio Clark was a beast all weekend under the boards and in transition for the Texas D-1 Ambassadors-Team Josephs.
2011 W JaQuarius Daniels (R) of San Antonio Reagan informed me that he'd received his first D-1 football offer (from UT-San Antonio). Congrtaulations to the former D-1 Ambassador who is finishing out his summer basketball career with ATX-Parrish.
