Round Rock, TX-

                On Sunday evening, the 7th annual CenTX Hoopsfest came to a close, but not before we could crown three different bracket champions, one for each division. Here’s who went 4-0 on the weekend and stood as the clear cut, top team, of their division.

17U (4-0)
SA Hoops Elite 73
Texas Conquerors TXC 66
In a game where SAHE started very fast, jumping out to a 21-7 lead on a barrage of three-pointers. TXC would battle back, trailing by eight at the break, 43-35. The Conquerors TXC would take a brief lead in the 2nd half, and after trailing again, Trenton Page would tie it at 66 all with a trey from the left wing.

SAHE would respond, closing the game on a 7-0 run, wrapping up their perfect weekend in route to the 17U crown. Kristian Burgan (Clark HS) was busy all game doing damage in the paint and on the boards. Using his athleticism to get out into the open floor and finish above the rim. He had a game high 20 points. The head of the snake, Evan Herrera (O’Connor HS), added 16 points, but as the point guard, he is the stir that straws the proverbial drink for SAHE, and a critical part to their success this past weekend.

16U (4-0)
FOA White 53
Texas Hardwork Black 36
On the weekend, Team FOA’s closest margin of victory was double digits, 10 points, as they rolled into the 16U Final. Texas Hardwork Black did not have an answer for the shooting touch of Maurice Eddie (Steele HS), and the quickness and strength of Jamial Garland (Clemens HS) who knifed his way through the defense consistently to get to the rim and finish easily.

Eddie would knock down three treys in the first half, and 12 of Garland’s 17 points also came in the first sixteen minutes. It would give FOA the cushion they needed the rest of the way to secure the 16U title, with a 53-36 triumph.

15U (4-0)
ProSkills SA Black 81
Austin Select 72
The highest scoring final, was in the youngest division, as both teams traded buckets in a very entertaining 15U Championship. Both teams combined for a total of 21 three-pointers. Austin Select connected on 13 and ProSkills was able to hold their own, draining 8 of them.

The trio of Trey Burton (Clemens HS), Joel Zolicoffer II (Judson HS), and Quintin Cain (Judson HS) went for 22, 20, and 15 points respectively. Although the perimeter shots were raining, the 6’4” Burton was a tough guard down low and showed effective low post moves, and the ability to finish in close, logging a game high 22 points. Zollicoffer’s ability to score from both the perimeter and off the dribble, was the perfect pairing compliment, netting 20 points. Of those twenty, two were from beyond the arc, but he showed a nice ability to play controlled and was not shy of using his mid-range pull up. Cain already has a very strong frame and he excels in the open court, showing his athleticism to finish above the rim. He added 15 points in the Championship, but remained consistent all weekend as well from the perimeter.

Despite falling in defeat, credit to Austin Select. Pierce Paul (2029) had a team high 20 points, draining 6 treys. Nico Cajas (2029) was on his offensive heels putting in 18, and Jax Sharum (2028) remained white hot all weekend connecting on four more three-pointers, finishing also with 18 points in the loss.