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Midwest Showdown 2019 (part 2)

By Bob Corwin, 05/30/19, 1:30PM PDT

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AL Southern Starz 2022-Bush Nike, winner of 10th Grade Division of Midwest Showdown 2019 (PC: Bob Corwin)

Alabama Southern Starz repeats in 10th Grade Division by topping Michigan Crossover

By Bob Corwin

In part 1, the Elite Division (best rising senior teams or younger) of the 2019 Midwest Showdown was reviewed.  Here the 10th grade Division will get a look.   Be it a different group of players, the Southern Starz club won this division for a second year in a row,  

Picking up the action in the 10th Grade Division final...

Alabama Southern Starz 2022 – Bush Nike 54-46 Michigan Crossover 16U EYBL

This contest pitted the quality shooters of the Southern Starz (all but two players were 2022’s) against the superior athletes of Michigan Crossover.  After an initial feeling out period (8-8) with 2:43 felt in quarter one, the Southern Starz went on a 9-2 run to end the quarter with a 17-10 lead keyed by Sara Puckett’s (see below) eight points.  The second quarter saw a trade of runs with the lead 33-19 favoring Alabama at half. 

Strong perimeter shooting pushed the Alabama lead out to 41-23 at the 4:18 mark of the third quarter.  Michigan cut the lead to 46-33 as the third stanza drew to a close.  In the fourth quarter, Crossover cut the lead to six with 2:22 left but could get no closer.   Puckett led all scorers with 15 points while all-tournament selectee Ruby Whitehorn led Crossover with 11 points.  Bottom line was the Starz shot it better early to get the lead and late to hold it.

Division and Championship Game MVP Sara Puckett continued her strong play of this spring at the Midwest Showdown.  With great size, she has solid three-point range, can hit at mid-range and even post up some.  Power 5 programs have already lined up for her services at the next level.

Special thanks to Harry Elifson and Amber Gray who worked with me during the weekend to select the all-tournament teams. 

Players are listed alphabetically with listed height, position, graduation year, and club team. Home town is in parenthesis. 

2019 Midwest Showdown

10th Grade Division

All-tournament Team

 

Kailee Davis, 5-4, point guard, 2021, Michigan Crossover 16U EYBL (Detroit, Michigan)

Allasha Dudley, 5-6, guard, 2021, All Alabama Roadrunners 2021 (Anniston, Alabama)

Baylee Goins, 5-9, guard, 2021, WV Thunder Johnson 2021 (Cross Lakes, West Virginia)  

Claira McGowan, 5-7, guard, 2021, B Wright 2021 UAA (Murfreesboro, Tennessee)

Kaliyah Myricks, 6-3, power forward, 2021, Books and Basketball 16U Gold (Hammonton, New Jersey)

Sara Puckett, 6-2, small forward, 2021, AL Southern Starz 2022-Bush Nike (Muscle Shoals, Alabama) MVP

Imarianah Russell, 6-0, small forward, 2022, All Ohio Lavender (Dublin, Ohio)

Arianna Smith, 6-2, power forward, 2021, All Ohio Lavender (Columbus, Ohio)

Madison Smith, 5-8, small forward, 2022, Books and Basketball 15U Elite (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

Corinne Washington, 5-10, forward, 2021, Western PA Bruins UAA 2021/22 Combo – Murray (Sewickley, Pennsylvania)

Karly Weathers, 5-9, shooting guard, 2022, AL Southern Starz 2022-Bush Nike (Loretto, Tennessee)

Ruby Whitehorn, 6-1, small forward, 2022, Michigan Crossover 16U EYBL (Harper Woods, Michigan)


Sara Puckett of AL Southern Starz 2022-Bush Nike (PC: Bob Corwin)