Hardwood Classic: Sunday Recaps
9:05 (17U Elite 8): Iowa Barnstormers 51 vs Team Rush 56
This was a tremendous game, but not the outcome Joe Wieskamp, AJ Green and Co. were looking for. The guys from Missouri (and Kansas) came out red-hot, particularly Jalen Lewis, who never stopped being red-hot. Lewis canned eight 3s in this one, and spurred what was a 23-2 start for Team Rush. Once the dust settled from the Barnstormers’ ice-cold start, Joey Hauser and Wieskamp started to do some damage and things normalized. It was AJ Green who hit a floater late in the game to tie it at 51. But that would be the last point for the ‘Stormers, who could not get some last minute 3s to drop. A Wisconsin prospect, Hauser led the Iowa squad with 21 points, he was the best player on the floor. Other scorers for the Barnstormers were; Wieskamp with 12, Green with 9 and Nebraska product Ed Chang, also with 9.
10:1o (15U Final 4): Iowa Barnstormers 59 vs MOKAN Select 44
This was a beatdown from the very start, and though MOKAN got it to within 10 once or twice in the second half, the game was never really in question. The Iowa guys led by 20 at the break, 37-17, behind a very strong half from Solon 6’6 wing AJ Coons. He was great in this one, and finished with a team-high 16. Coons and Norwalk point guard Bowen Born — who notched 13 points of his own — have a great connection on the floor, those two will help generate a lot of wins the nest two-plus seasons. It should be noted that Iowa City Regina power forward Even Brauns skied for a monster slam late in the second half, and was fouled too– definitely the best dunk I’ve seen this weekend. With the win, the ‘Stormers advance to play MOKAN Elite in the finals, that’s a 1:25 tip, and is a rematch of a thrilling Iowa one point win from pool play.
11:15 (16U Final 4): Iowa Barnstormers 63 vs Team Rush 37
The 16U ‘Stormers sought revenge on Team Rush after the Kansas City-based program knocked their 17U guys out of the tournament earlier in the morning. And after a quick 6-o start for the ‘Stormers, they never looked back. It was Linn-Mar shooting guard Trey Hutcheson who shined in this one, he netted 10 quick points early in the first half and finished with a game-high 18. This one was over by half (it was 34-15), and after a short burst from Team Rush to start the second, the ‘Stormers lead ballooned right back up to 20. Most of the second half was played with a running clock, which is something you typically don’t see so far into tournaments. After winning the adidas Gauntlet Finale in South Carolina last week, this 16U squad seems poised for another title one of the nation’s premier tourneys this weekend. What a run they’re on. They’ll play SSA Elite (KS) at 1:25 for the title.
1:25 (15U Finals): Iowa Barnstormers 68 vs MOKAN Elite 60
This was a tight game for the most part, but an early burst and a late surge by the Iowa guys made the final couple minutes relatively stress free. It was the second meeting between these two, and each time the ‘Stormers came out on top. Iowa City High guard Keshawn Christian was instrumental in the win, he came away with 15 points and a team-high 9 rebounds. Many of his efforts came in during high-pressure moments, when his team needed them most. AJ Coons was sensational all weekend for the Barnstormers, he netted a game-high 17 points in this one, to go with 5 rebounds. MOKAN was led by Donovan Williams, the Lincoln Northstar point guard notched a game-high 19 points in the loss.
1:25 (16U Finals): Iowa Barnstormers 67 vs SSA Elite 47
The absolute tear that this Barnstormers 16U team has been on continued into Sunday, and it all came to a boil during a 20-point mercy rule shellacking of Kansas-based SSA Elite. Patrick McCaffery had a little extra pep in his step throughout the blowout win, he was the aggressor on many possessions and finished with a team high 16 points. Away from the ball, McCaffery was also sensational, coming away with a slew of blocks, assists and rebounds. Derek Krogmann continued his strong play, scoring 13 points in the win. Most impressive, and perhaps most telling, is that all 10 players scored for the ‘Stormers. This team is talented and deep, and after winning the adidas Gauntlet Finale last weekend, they can add another feather to their cap before heading to Las Vegas for the adidas Summer Championship.