Frank Burlison

NORWALK, Ca. – As was the case during its four “pool-play games” over the weekend, “Team Harden” struggled in the first half of the championship game of the adidas Global Nations Monday night at Cerritos Community College in this Los Angeles suburb.

As, was also the case in those previous contests, Team Harden fired hard on all cylinders after intermission while rolling to a 123-96 victory over Team Canada.

Team Harden got double-figure scoring from seven of its 11 players – led by guard Jaylen Hands (a senior-to-be who attended Balboa Prep in San Diego as a junior must is soon like to relocate to another San Diego County school), who scored 18 points and was selected by event officials as the  Most Outstanding Player following conclusion of the title game.

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LAS VEGAS – The Los Angeles-based Earl Watson Elite squad capped a strong five days and overcome a significant injury to capture the Fab 48 17-Under Invitational division champion Sunday afternoon at Bishop Gorman High.

EWE, coached by George Zedan (Cantwell-Sacred Heart in Montebello), toppled another Under Armour-front program, Splash City (made up of players from the northern and central regions of California) in the title game, 65-50, as Jemarl Baker and Reed Farley led the way with 20 and 15 points, respectively.

There wasn’t a better jump shooter – or a player who hit “bigger shots” – in Las Vegas than Baker while leading EWE overall record of 9-zip on the week, including the three wins on Sunday (quarter- and semi-final victories over the Omaha Sports Academy and Florida Vipers, respectively).

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LAS VEGAS — Four days down, and a “championship Sunday” on tap for the third and final week in the NCAA “summer recruiting evaluation period” for its the coaching staffs of its membership’s basketball programs.

At the Fab 48 at Bishop Gorman High, WE R 1 (88-83 over Big Red Elite), Splash City (53-45 over Uncommon Bulls), DC Premier (70-57 over Sports U), Each 1 Teach 1 (over E1T1 United), 82-78), the Florida Vipers (86-66 over RM5), the New York City Rens (68-55 over Expressions Elite), Earl Watson Elite (75-46 over Showtime Ballers) and OSA (78-69 over the Indy Hoosiers) captured Round of 16 contests in the Invitational Division Saturday.

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LAS VEGAS –  If the playoff portion proves as compelling as were many of the pool-play games played on Friday, look for the final two days of the 2016 Fab 48 to provide a nice way to stay out of the record-breaking heat in the city.

In a Pool C contest, it was quite the clash of Under Armour-fronted California programs with Earl Watson Elite toppling Splash City, 68-63.

Six-foot-two Damari Milstead (Moreau High in Hayward) continued to look like a strong candidate as the top senior in Northern California next season while scoring 25 points by way of nifty combination of deep jumpers, floaters and crafty layups in traffic.

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LAS VEGAS – The Massachusetts Rivals squad made quick and efficient work of two opponents Thursday to capture the adidas Summer Championships’ “Creator Cup” and earn the top seed in the 17-Under Champion playoffs’ bracket at the Cashman Center.

Coach Vincent Pastore’s team opened the Creator Cup competition Wednesday night by pounding Compton Magic, 83-55, and followed it with 71-36 win over Game Elite (Georgia and South Carolina players) in the semifinal Thursday afternoon.

Mass Rivals ground out a 67-61 decision over D-I Minnesota in the final later that night.

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