PHOENIX, Ariz.-The 22nd annual Nike Tournament of Champions passed out some Christmas gifts Saturday as seven division champions were crowned following four days of action. Things began Wednesday with 112 teams from 20 states, D.C. and Canada all hoping to make their mark on the biggest stage in scholastic basketball. Championship Day saw five of seven bracket finals walk into the spotlight on the “main” floor of the “PHHacility” of Powerhouse Hoops. Two other divisions crowned their champions on an adjacent floor just one door down the hall. When all was said and done and the smoke had cleared the average margin of victory for the seven combined championship games was just 8.2 points. Keep in mind also that just one game was decided by double figures and it was a lopsided 32 point margin. In other words, it was a day of great match ups, close finishes and some very competitive basketball.
In the top division of play, the Clare Droesch bracket, it was a standing room only crowd for the event’s final game pitting Windward (Calif.) and the tournament’s apparent team of destiny, Miami Country Day. MCD won their opener over a talented Long Island Lutheran team by 9 before dramatically taking down the country’s newest number one ranked team, St. John’s College (D.C.) by just three. While that might seem hard to top, in the semifinals they took drama to whole new level when trailing by three they converted a four point play off a New Hope Academy turnover thanks to long range hitting senior Maria Alvarez. And all occurred with less than 12 seconds on the clock. Unfortunately for Windward, Alvarez and her teammates weren’t done with their flair for great finishes. After trailing by 10 after three periods and still eight with 2 and half minutes on the clock, the Spartans went to work again capped off by back to back Alvarez threes and game winner at the rim by Koi Love to claim the top prize at the 2018 Nike TOC by a score of 52 – 51.
Alvarez, a senior, was named MVP and was joined on the Droesch All-Tournament squad by teammate and classmate Love. Windward’s senior Charisma Osborne and junior MaKayla Williams were recognized as well. Joining them were Cameron Brink – 2020 – Southridge (Ore.), Azzi Fudd – 2021 – St. John’s College (D.C.), Haley Jones – 2019 – Archbishop Mitty (Calif.), Latasha Lattimore – 2021 – Crestwood Prep (Can.), Daejah Phillips – 2020 – Centennial (Nev.), Nina Rickards – 2019 – Christ the King (N.Y.) and Jada Walker – 2021 – New Hope Academy (Md.).
The Joe Smith final kept the bleachers full and folks in the seats from start to finish as well. Redondo Union jumped out on Mater Dei, both from Southern California, by a 10 – 2 margin and led 14 – 7 after one period. Mater Dei outscored their rival 25 – 14 over the next two quarters to lead 32 – 28 entering the fourth. The Sea Hawks responded with a 15 – 8 period capped by an Alyssa Munn three pointer with 3.9 seconds to seal the win and claim the crown 43 – 40.
Munn, a junior, was named MVP and was joined by sophomore teammate Calli stokes on the Smith All-Tournament Team. Mater Dei’s sophomore Brooke DeMetre and senior Cailyn Crocker took home all tourney honors as well. They were joined by Ali Bamberger – 2019 – Carondelet (Calif.), Jamaryn Blair – 2021 – Bradley Central (Tenn.), Anna Blount – 2019 – St. Mary’s (Calif.), Marissa Davis – 2021 – Valley Vista (Ariz.), Kasey Neubert – 2019 – Highlands Ranch (Calif.), Jana Van Gytenbeek – 2020 – Cherry Creek (Colo.) and Raven White – 2019 – Dillard (Fla.).
Long Beach Poly (Calif.) battled a never say die Rosary team (Calif.) nip and tuck from start to finish. Both teams were slow out of the gate with a 4 to 4 offensive showcase for the first quarter. Poly took a three point lead at the half which they stretch to a margin of 10 after three. Rosary wasn’t going away pushing the Jackrabbits to the final buzzer before falling in the end 40 – 32.
The one final that got out of hand was Oak Ridge (Tenn.) and Christian (Calif.). The visitors from back east led by nine after one and took a 29 – 14 lead into the locker room at the break. The third got completely out of hand as Oak Ridge put up 28 points and sported a hefty 57 – 25 cushion going into the final period. In the end the Wildcats claimed the Mike Desper title with a convincing 66 – 34 win.
In the Dan Wiley final, La Jolla Country Day (Playing the TOC without injured Te-Hina Paopao) found a tough road with Campbell (Ga.) and their aggressive press. A six point lead after one period became a two point halftime deficit for La Jolla. They led by three entering the fourth and battled to the finish holding on for a hard earned 48 – 44 win and some new hardware for Christmas.
The logistics of time and the number of divisions of play make it impossible to see all the championship games. The Derril Kipp and Kirk Pointer brackets still featured some competitive title contests with an eight point and two point margin for all the bragging rights.
To see the complete brackets and results from the 2018 Nike Tournament of Champions follow the link below.
https://basketball.exposureevents.com/124085/2018-nike-tournament-of-champions/schedule
Also, check out our coverage from days one through three by clicking on the respective links.
https://www.bluestarmedia.org/nike-tournament-of-champions-day-one/
https://www.bluestarmedia.org/nike-tournament-of-champions-day-two/
