CHANDLER, Ariz. – Over four days the 2011 Nike Tournament of Champions brought together 96 teams, bracketed them in six divisions and ultimately played 142 games that many consider some of the most competitive high school basketball of the season. Anyone who stuck around for Thursday’s championship games as well as the remaining consolation contests got more than their fair share of impressive individual and team performances. Today we’ll take a quick look at the results in the title games of each division as well as the All-Star teams and MVP’s of the Joe Smith and John Anderson Divisions. Following the holiday we’ll also offer up some detailed evaluation of some of the events top individual performers.
Joe Smith Division
The match up that most folks were hoping for and had anticipated came to pass as St. Mary’s (Ariz.) and Riverdale Baptist (Md.) faced off in the TOC’s final game Thursday evening. In front of a large crowd that included many other participating teams, two of the nation’s most highly regarded programs fought a physical battle that would have made most NFL teams proud. As a result of some sharp shooting on their end and some ice cold results for Riverdale, St. Mary’s jumped out of the gate to a 13 – 5 lead that they were able to maintain through the half taking a 35 – 26 lead into the lockeroom. The Lady Knights extended their lead early in the third period to a margin of 14 when Riverdale coach Diane Richardson was taken out by a loose ball scramble that knocked her into her team on the bench and knocked her out cold by the contact. For several tense moments every individual in the gym anxiously waited for the signs of movement that slowly came and offered relief to all those concerned. EMT’s were on hand by that point but anyone knowing the fiery coach shouldn’t be surprised that she remained on the bench and coached through the final buzzer. Unfortunately for both Richardson and her Crusaders, St. Mary’s continued their offensive output while Riverdale continued to struggle from the floor. An intentional fouling strategy closed the gap to as close as nine but locals from Phoenix were able to hold the lead and take a 79 – 69 win for the title. Sophomore guard Courtney Ekmark led St. Mary’s with 26 while Harvard bound senior Shilpa Tummala added 24 of her own. West Virginia signee Jennie Simms chipped in 15 for Riverdale while Clemson commit Jonquel Jones struggled with only three in the first half but finished with a total of 13 on the evening.
Smith Division All-Star Team
Nirra Fields – 5-9 Guard – Mater Dei – (UCLA)
Alexis Jones – 5-9 – Guard – Irving MacArthur – (Duke)
Jonquel Jones – 6-0 Guard/Wing – Riverdale Baptist – (Clemson)
Taylor Manuel – 6-3 Post – Incarnate Word – (Purdue)
Chantel Osahor – 6-0 Forward/Post – St. Mary’s – (2013)
Faith Randolph – 5-9 Guard – Our Lady of Good Counsel – (Virginia)
Jennie Simms – 6-0 Guard – Riverdale Baptist – (West Virginia)
Imani Stafford – 6-7 Post – Windward – (Texas)
Breanna Stewart – 6-4 Forward – Cicero-North Syracuse – (Connecticut)
Morgan Tuck – 6-2 Forward – Bolingbrook (Connecticut)
MVP – Shilpa Tummala – 5-11 Guard – St. Mary’s – (Harvard)
