Prep Hoops Show-Me Showdown 16U and the New Sheriff in town

I had some fun in yesterday's blog post, predicting the spreads and winners of the Prep Hoops Show-Me Showdown 16U (https://gramps8851.blogspot.com/2019/05/prep-hoops-show-me-showdown-sunday-16u.html).  I actually predicted Gateway and St. Louis Blazers in the final and Gateway proved to be too much for the Blazers as they ran them ragged for a 30+ point victory.

Seems like the more the Blazers pressed for baskets, the easier it was for Gateway to break out on the fast break and score easy shots.  When they did have to settle down for a half court game, their three point shooters and slash and drive specialists were carving up the Blazers defense.  The final score wasn't indicative of the real differences in these two quality teams, but what happened to the Blazers can easily happen to a good team when things aren't working.... just ask Gateway about their experiences in the UAA league.  This win will help them in July and it puts them in the top position as the new sheriff in St. Louis town right now.

It will be interesting to see how Gateway, Bradley Beal, Larry Hughes, Team Ramey and Jets Orange will fare come July, if they all show up for the Three Stripes Alliance Tournament at Lindenwood.

Overall the tournament was a huge success with the top ten teams being soundly ranked.  The tournament field as a whole was a little weak compared to previous Prep Hoops contests this year but it is a good tournament for my rankings algorithm because there was so much crossover between UAA, Prep Hoops and Recruit Look tournaments and I can get a sounder comparison of the strength of teams.

On a lighter note, I complained about Baller TV and not being able to watch my second cousin's grandson playing for the 16U H&H Elite from Edmond Oklahoma.  Well, last night, he texted me and said he had it all wrong, his grandson plays on the 15U team, so I have to go back and find the 15U H&H Elite games on Baller to catch the action.  I did find one game at Chaminade and the streaming was great.  The streaming at the 16U games at MICDS was simply horrible so maybe it's the MICDS building that's the problem, not Baller's feed.

The other thing I complained about was Indy EBC forfeiting a game Saturday and expecting them to blow off Sunday against H&H Elite.  Well, they showed up so, Hats off to them and I am eating crow.  I still have a bee in my bonnet about teams forfeiting tournament games but they must have had some good reason.... maybe they went to the wrong gym...…

PREP HOOPS SHOW-ME SHOWDOWN - FINAL
RANK	TEAM	STATE	RATING
1	Gateway Basketball Club	MO	121
2	ABC Young Lions Teal	MN	116
3	SW IL Jets Orange	IL	116
4	Saint Louis Blazers	MO	116
5	Team Ramey	MO	115
6	The Work Foundation	IL	115
7	SW IL Jets Blue	IL	113
8	ABC Young Lions Black	MN	112
9	Capital City Team Work	IL	110
10	CarrollGoL1ve	MO	110
11	Knights Basketball Academy	MO	107
12	BC Swag	WI	106
13	Victory Ministry Blue	MO	106
14	Missouri Flight - Blue	MO	105
15	Minnesota Magic Hannah	MN	105
16	Hoop Smart Basketball	MI	104
17	Texas Tar Heels	TX	103
18	Illinois Bears	IL	102
19	RWA	MN	101
20	Illinois TWolves	IL	101
21	Iowa Dynasty	IA	100
22	Chicago Demons	IL	99
23	Spencer Cougars	OK	99
24	Arsenal Hoops	MO	93
25	Tulsa Hawks White	OK	93
26	KC Pacers Blue 2021	MO	93
27	Q.C. Ballers	IL	91
28	Victory Ministry Orange	MO	91
29	H&H Elite	OK	90
30	Tulsa Hawks Blue	OK	90
31	Tennessee Edge	TN	90
32	All Missouri Attack	MO	88
33	PAC Gold	TX	88
34	Peoria Area Elite	IL	87
35	Arkansas Heat Elite	AR	86
36	PlayMaker Express	OK	83
37	Kentucky Defenders	KY	83
38	ET21 Buckeyes	IL	83
39	Indy EBC	IN	80
40	Minnesota Heat - East	MN	80
41	ABP Athletics	IA	79
42	Team Iowa	IA	78
43	Michigan Tranzition	MI	77
44	JC THUNDER	MO	73
45	KC Pacers White 2021	MO	71
46	Full Package Black	MN	67
		AVG.	96
	TOP	10	114