Ro-Hawks take GASO NBA title

CARROLLTON - Being in the championship game of the Dallas/IAD Great American Shoot-Out wasn't anything new for the San Antonio Ro-Hawks basketball program. The Ro-Hawks Black won the NCAA Division title in 2007, and the Ro-Hawks were the tournament runner-up to the Houston Elite in last year's NBA Division title game.

This year, the program made sure it got the job done in the NBA bracket. The Ro-Hawks 17 MC took the championship in GASO's top level by defeating Dallas Showtyme Elite, 81-75, Monday night at the Intergrated Athletic Development.

"We got our revenge back," Ro-Hawks guard Jordan Clarkson of San Antonio Wagner said. "They had beaten us in Vegas. Because of that, we wanted to come out strong."

The Ro-Hawks didn't grab their first lead until 2:19 left in the first half, when two free throws by Wagner's Andre Roberson gave the team a 31-30 lead. The Ro-Hawks took a 38-36 lead at the half. They built a 14-point lead midway through the second half.

"We were able to minimize our [first-half] mistakes," Ro-Hawks coach Michael Clarkson said. "We got on a little run and got some momentum. We were able to execute at critical points in the game."

The Ro-Hawks didn't make a field goal in the last 5:30 of the game, but it made 13 free throws, including two big ones by Clarkson with 10 seconds left to play.

"Once we got to crunch time, somehow or another, they were able to muster up enough confidence to get on the line and hit the shots," Michael Clarkson said. "If we can hit the free throws, we feel like we have a good chance."

San Antonio, for the game, didn't shoot free throws well, but it did connect on 27 of 42 (64.3 percent) from the line. Showtyme Elite only attempted 18 free throws and made 14 (77.8 percent).

Jordan Clarkson and Wagner's Jordan Jones each had 21 points in the win. Roberson added 17 for the Ro-Hawks. Dallas Kimball's David Kates scored 22 points and made four 3-pointers to lead Showtyme Elite. Dallas W.T. White's Brandon Regis added 11 in the loss.

Showtyme Elite was one of four Dallas Showtyme teams to advance to at least the semifinals of their respective divisions. Showtyme Black lost to Showtyme Elite in an NBA semifinal, and the Showtyme White and Showtyme Black NCAA Division teams lost to the Ro-Hawks and the Oklahoma Blazers, respectively.

"It was a good showing, a good way to start our summer off," Showtyme Elite coach Ervin "Big E" Davis said. "I feel like we're starting to reach our potential right now. We weren't able to pull it out, but I'm proud of my guys."

DALLAS/IAD GREAT AMERICAN SHOOT-OUT

NBA DIVISION FINAL BOXSCORE

(At the Integrated Athletic Development, Carrollton)

DALLAS SHOWTYME ELITE 36 39 - 75

SAN ANTONIO RO-HAWKS 17 MC 38 43 - 81

Showtyme Elite: John Bohannon 6, Tre Lynch 10, Eric Waters 8, David Kates 22, Michale Kyser 4, Sheldon Earl 4, Brandon Regis 11, Tusk 9, JJ Williams 1

Ro-Hawks: Quentin Hector 1, Jordan Jones 21, Andre Roberson 21, Jordan Clarkson 21, Jamal Johnson 11, Joe Monroe 11