LONG BEACH — Squads led by a couple of the best point guard-prospects anywhere navigated their way through quarterfinal- and semifinal-games Saturday contest in the Invitational Division of the Pangos Summer Sweet 16.
The victories, coupled with wins on Friday night, gave them the opportunity to play for the division’s championship on Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock on Court 3 of Cabrillo High’s main gymnasium.
Jordan McLaughlin (Etiwanda High), fresh off a flight from Philadelphia where he participated in a Reebok-fronted camp, led Prodigy Elite to victories over Belmont Shore and the Las Vegas Prospects to earn the Inland Empire-based (in San Bernardino County) club to its spot in the finale.
And Devin Watson (San Diego Army-Navy) helped Earl Watson Pangos Elite (with players from just about every “county” in Southern California) knock off the Arizona Stars Elite and then the L.A. Rockfish to earn its spot opposite Prodigy Elite.
Action in the Invitational (top) division gets underway at 12:40 Sunday afternoon.
In the “consolation” side of the bracket, at 12:40, Marcus Banks Hard to Guard takes on Supreme Court Germany (Ct. 1) and the Arizona Magic plays Inland (Ct. 2).
Other consolation games, at 1:40, have Branch West Elite vs. the Nevada Wolverines (Ct. 1) and, for the consolation “title”, Game Point Black of San Diego plays The Magic of Arizona (Ct. 3).
In the 7th-place game, also at 1:50, the Arizona Stars Elite faces Team Superstar (Ct. 2), while the Utah Prospects and Belmont Shore play for 5th-place, at 3 o’clock (Ct. 1).
The third-place matchup has Rock Fish vs. Las Vegas Prospects (Ct. 2), also at 3 o’clock.
McLaughlin hit the winning free throw, and he and his teammates withstood a frantic Daniel Hamilton- and Tyler Dorsey-led rally, to edge Belmont Shore, 68-67.
He then made most of the critical plays down the stretch, including consecutive “and-1s”, in the 65-52 win against the Las Vegas Prospects and their solid corps of perimeter standouts Justin Burks, Shaquile Carr and Darryl Gaynor.
Another Prodigy standout in both games was undersized power forward (6-foot-5 or so) Jamar Akoh (Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos), who consistently got advantageous low-post position to dominate as a scorer and rebounder.
I’m not sure Watson missed a jump shot against the L.A. Rockfish. But his Earl Watson Pangos Elite teammates – especially left-handed forwards D.J. Ursery (Encino Crespi) and Tavrion Dawson (Gardena Serra) – more than did their share, as well, to help get the team to the finale.
The 16 – Select – Division title will be decided when Gamepoint Red faces the Las Vegas Prospects at 11:30 a.m. on Court 3.
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