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SoCalHoops High School & Prep News

SCA Beats ARC For 13-U National Title--(July 6, 1998)

Once again, the Southern California All-Stars, most of whom were on Reynaldo Henry's 4-D All-Stars which won the 12-U national title last year beat their cross-town rivals, ARC Razorbacks, for the National Title in the 13-U age division of AAU competition. And once again, we weren't there, but we did find a great article by Kevin Gorman a reporter with The Commercial Appeal, a local Memphis, Tennessee paper. Here's what Gorman had to say about last night's championship game.

Old Rivals Team Up To Win AAU National Title

By Kevin Gorman
The Commercial Appeal

Harrison Schaen played for the ARC Razorbacks and against Trayvon Williams and Treyvante Nelson for theAmateur Athletic Union national championship as an 11-year-old, when the 4-D Stars won the title.

On Sunday, the three teamed up for the top-seeded Southern California All-Stars against the 50th-seeded Razorbacks in the championship game of the AAU 13-and-under national championships here in Memphis.

In the revolving-door world of AAU basketball, the makeup of teams can change from year to year. And players can trade off team nicknames on an annual basis.

For now, Schaen will have to just call himself a national champion.

The 6-6 center scored 13 points as the All-Stars survived a late rally and beat the Razorbacks, 55-48, in an all-Southern California championship at Wooddale High.

"I've always wanted to know what it's like to stand on this side of the court," Schaen said, "after playing for the national championship."

Schaen set the tone early for the All-Stars, dominating the paint with short jumpers, rebounds and blocked shots. It was the second-half play of Williams (14 points) and Nelson (15 points), who both played on the 4-D Stars' national champions as 11- and 12-year-olds, that clinched the national title.

Williams scored big baskets inside early in the third quarter to open SCA's 27-25 halftime lead. But Ashanti Cook, who scored 11 of his 12 points in the second half, brought the Razorbacks back. Cook sank a 15-foot jumper to make it 40-36 and then hit a three-pointer with six seconds left in the third quarter to close it to 40-39.

"Our theme this year was to go from winners to champions," said Razorbacks coach Patrick Christian. "We just came up a little short."

The Razorbacks took a 41-40 advantage on Cook's double-clutch baseline drive and extended that lead to three on a stop-and-go layup by Steve Smith (12 points).

But SCA regained control on Wesley Washington's steal and layup for a 46-45 lead with 1:38 left. The All-Stars stole the inbounds, and Schaen hit a layup.

That's where Nelson came in.

The 5-8 guard - whose uncle, Greg Fulbright, lives in Hickory Hill - bounced into the lane, leaned in and banked a jumper from eight feet as he was fouled with 59.4 seconds remaining. "When I made it I saw their heads drop," Nelson said. "Then I had to concentrate on the free throws."

He sank one for a three-point play and a 51-45 lead, then added four more down the stretch to seal the victory.

"That was the game-winner right there, that leaping leaner," SCA coach Pat Barrett said. "We were like, `No, no, no . . . yes.' "

The paper also had some results for local Memphis teams, but not for any others. Here's what they had:

Memphis Bellevue: The fifth-seeded War Eagles lost to the Milwaukee Running Rebels, 71-69, Sunday at Wooddale and finished fourth overall. Ladrekus Dickerson, who led Bellevue with 22 points, missed what would have been a game-winning three-pointer from 28 feet at the buzzer.

Second Presbyterian: Only losses were to eventual national champion Southern California All-Stars in the first game of pool play and the Indiana Hoosier Heat (by two points) in the first round. The Black Hawks beat the Indy Metros, 46-36, Sunday at Bishop Byrne to claim eighth place in the national tourney.

We want to congratulate both SCA and ARC, two teams filled with some of the best SoCal players, and the best in the nation. We're looking forward to seeing (and coaching) Harrison at the Maccabi Games later this summer in Detroit. For now, many of the players on both teams will either head back to LA, some will be visiting the Nike Camp, some will go to the Nike Super Showcase in Florida July 17-20, and still others will play later this summer in Vegas at the Grand Finale. We're looking forward to welcoming the champions back home.