GASO: Defenders take Open Division title
DUNCANVILLE, Texas -- The Houston Defenders Select entered the 23rd annual Great American Shoot-Out as arguably the best team of the entire tournament. In its first pool-play game Sunday, the Defenders handed the Dallas Showtyme Elite, a GASO stalwart and a 2009 champion, a 28-point defeat.
On Monday, the two teams met up in the GASO Open Division championship game. Showtyme put up a better effort, but in the end, it was the Defenders walking away with a 68-50 victory at Bob Knight's Fieldhouse.
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There was a time in the first half where the game was tied and, for a brief spell, Showtyme held a small lead. But the Defenders took a six-point lead in the half and then opened up its game in the second half.
Defenders coach Aaron Harrison Sr. said when the youngest of his twin sons, 6-foot-6 point guard Andrew Harrison turned up his intensity, momentum began to shift in the Defenders' favor.
"When Andrew decided he was going to start making plays, that's when the game was over," Harrison Sr. said. "Most guards aren't 6-6 and 210 pounds. He can do a lot against the smaller guards."
If it wasn't Andrew Harrison, it was his twin Aaron Harrison making plays. In fact, all 10 of the Defenders had a major part in the 18-point win. All 10 players scored at least two points, and seven of the 10 scored five or more.
"The goal of the Defenders is to get every kid a college scholarship," Harrison Sr. said. "All that other stuff doesn't matter to me. We don't expect any of them to make it to the pros, but if they get a four-year college degree and if God blesses them to make it far, then I'll be happy."
Two of the most talked-about Defenders not named Harrison were offensive leaders in the win. Derrick Griffin, who made his case for being the tournament's most athletic player, and Clyde Santee, a do-it-all player who really showed his defensive importance, each had 12 points.
Showtyme's Brandon Pye led all scorers with 17 points. David Tucker added 14 in the loss.
Consolation final: Texas PRO victorious: The Texas PRO-Lowe won the Open Division consolation bracket by defeating the Dallas Mustangs, 65-48.
The PRO opened up a close affair and turned into a comfortable victory. The PRO only led, 30-28, at the end of the first half, but the team outscored the Mustangs, 35-20, in the second half.
Chicken Knowles had 17 points, and Danuel House had 16 in the PRO's win. Demarcus Holland scored 15 points to lead the Mustangs.
23RD ANNUAL GREAT AMERICAN SHOOT-OUT
(At Bob Knight's Fieldhouse, Duncanville)
OPEN DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP GAME BOXSCORE
HOU. DEFENDERS SELECT 33 35 - 68
DAL. SHOWTYME ELITE 27 23 - 50
Defenders: Aaron Harrison 11, Andrew Harrison 8, Derrick Griffin 12, Ahmad Hamdi 2, Shaquille Cleare 8, Christian Sanders 4, Clyde Santee 12, Eugene Wright 2, Wesley Iwundi 4, Chris Johnson 5
Showtyme : Jalen Landers 3, Brandon Pye 17, D'Angelo Allen 2, David Tucker 14, Kelvin Downs 4, Deondre Ray 8, D.J. Weathers 1, McWisdom Badejo 1
OPEN DIVISION CONSOLATION GAME BOXSCORE
DALLAS MUSTANGS 28 20 - 48
TEXAS PRO-LOWE 30 35 - 65
Mustangs : Demarcus Holland 15, Jabril Durham 2, Trevon Owens 3, James Pegues 9, Devon Williams 8, Zach LeDay 7, R.J. White 2, Darius Parker 2
PRO: Chance Allen 2, T.J. Rhodes 9, Chicken Knowles 17, Branford Jones 6, Austin Lewis 2, Danuel House 16, Michael Simpson 6, Jeremy King 7