Junior National Invitational recap

July 9, 2012

The Hall of Fame National Invitational will be in full swing this upcoming week and this past weekend brought some of New England's most promising young talent to the MassMutual Center and surrounding areas in the Greater Springfield area.

Four full-size courts were placed in the MassMutual Center exhibtion hall, along with several championship games played at the Basketball Hall of Fame for the 10-14 age groups.

In the 14u Championship, MABC and Shooting Stars (Mass.) had a tough first half shooting. The Stars led 12-4 after 16 minutes, with MABC hitting a three on the first possession of the game, then going without a field goal for the remainder of the half.

Remarkably, MABC was able to stay in the game with defense and to start the second half erased an eight-point deficit. The game would be tight for the remainder of the game with MABC having several chances to win the game, before the title was decided in overtime. 

In OT, MABC held the ball for one shot and capitalized with a floater in the lane to defeat its in-state rival 32-30 at the MassMutual Center.

The 13u title had no problem scoring. At half, New Heights (N.Y.) and Noreast Lightning posted almost 100 points combined. In the second half, New Heights cruised with an explosive fast break attack, winning the 13u crown 82-57 at the Hall of Fame.

New Heights used its quickness to its advantage, but held the ball to run the clock out as the Lightning remained in the 2-3 zone.

The 12u championship game saw the Shooting Stars take down CBC at the Hall of Fame, 46-43. The Stars used a strong inside presence to capture a lead in the second half and hold off a tough CBC squad that won the Best of the Best Tournament back in June. 

The game before that, the 11u championship between New England Storm and New Heights kicked off the title games at the Hall of Fame. The Storm got a double-digit lead early, but a talented New Heights team would climb back into it. The Storm was too strong, pulling away in the end, claiming the 11u crown 62-49.

Expressions breezed past Riverside Church 41-15 in the 10u championship.

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