PREP HOOPS SHOW-ME SHOWDOWN SUNDAY 16U PREDICTIONS AND OTHER RANDOM THOUGHTS

I don't usually post mid-tournament rankings but I thought I would put out some this morning as fodder for those of you following the 16U Prep Hoops Show-Me Showdown.  It looks like Gateway might find their way to the championship today.  I have listed the teams current ratings and their bracket opponent so Gateway is playing Missouri Flight Blue, rated at 100.  That's a 19 point spread for their game.  ABC Young Lions Teal should squeak out a one point win over Team Ramey but when the rankings are that close, you can flip a coin.  Capital City Teamwork should beat Hoopsmart by seven and the Blazers should beat ABC Young Lions Black by four.  I expect the Blazers to end up in the final vs. Gateway but coming up a little short.

The other consolation games and playoffs are listed below with the predicted winner in bold.  Don't go to Vegas on these picks.  It's just for fun.

Did anyone try to watch games on Baller TV yesterday?  Ouch, talk about bad reception.  The streaming was God-awful with a number of game views frozen.  The Gateway-Knights game replay is one second long.  I tried to watch my cousins grandsons team, H&H Elite from Edmond, Oklahoma on three occasions yesterday and all three were screwed up.  I usually have fairly good luck with Baller but yesterday was the worst.  And when the games did stream, the kids manning the video were on their phones and the cameras weren't even on the game.  Come on, guys.  D-Up.

I don't get teams that come to town to play four or five games and bag it after two.  Indy EBC forfeited their third game and I bet they don't show for their afternoon game with H&H Elite.  H&H will sit around til 1:25pm to find out that Indy EBC left town yesterday.  Teams like that should not be invited back.  I see that to often.  No score, just a F after their name.  That is just plain inconsiderate to the other teams in the tournament.  If you don't like getting shellacked, then don't come to the big shows.  Just stay home.  If you come to play the big boys, stick around and take your lumps and learn from it.  What do you teach a 16 year old by bagging the rest of the tournament?  And do you give their parents half the tournament fee back?  Doubt it.

POSTSCRIPT:  INDY EBC showed up to play so hats off to them for staying the course.  Apologies here.  Eating crow for lunch.

Have a happy Memorial Day.  It's time to honor our vets.

PREP HOOPS SHOW-ME Showdown- 16U SUNDAY PREDICTIONS
CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET
1	Gateway Basketball Club	MO	119
2	Missouri Flight - Blue	MO	100
3	ABC Young Lions Teal	MN	116
4	Team Ramey	MO	115
5	Capital City Team Work	IL	110
6	Hoop Smart Basketball	MI	103
7	ABC Young Lions Black	MN	111
8	Saint Louis Blazers	MO	115
CONSOLATION BRACKET
9	Knights Basketball Academy	MO	106
10	Illinois Bears	IL	100
11	CarrollGoL1ve	MO	107
12	BC Swag	WI	104
13	Spencer Cougars	OK	101
14	Illinois TWolves	IL	92
15	Texas Tar Heels	TX	103
16	Minnesota Magic Hannah	MN	102
OTHER GAMES
17	The Work Foundation	IL	115
18	Tulsa Hawks White	OK	90
19	Victory Ministry Blue	MO	102
20	SW IL Jets Orange	IL	116
21	Victory Ministry Orange	MO	90
22	All Missouri Attack	MO	89
23	SW IL Jets Blue	IL	113
24	PAC Gold	TX	89
25	Iowa Dynasty	IA	100
26	Chicago Demons	IL	99
27	PlayMaker Express	OK	81
28	RWA	MN	101
29	Q.C. Ballers	IL	91
30	KC Pacers Blue 2021	MO	93
31	H&H Elite	OK	90
32	Indy EBC	IN	80
33	Tennessee Edge	TN	88
34	Tulsa Hawks Blue	OK	87
35	Peoria Area Elite	IL	87
36	Kentucky Defenders	KY	83
37	Arsenal Hoops	MO	93
38	ABP Athletics	IA	77
39	JC THUNDER	MO	71
40	Arkansas Heat Elite	AR	79
41	KC Pacers White 2021	MO	72
42	Minnesota Heat - East	MN	80
	ET21 Buckeyes	IL	81
	Team Iowa	IA	78
	Michigan Tranzition	MI	77
	Full Package Black	MN	67