Upshaw, Cress power 7A Ka-Roos to win
Posted On: Saturday, Feb. 6 2010 05:35 AM
Damion Upshaw scored 29 points and Demaris Cress added 27 to lead the Rancier 7A Ka-Roos to a 62-42 win over Union Grove in Killeen ISD middle school basketball action on Monday.
Anthony Johnson and Keelen Yates added two points each, and Djiron Lilly had one point. Carl Dickens, Tre'Vonte' Hopson and Anthony Oliver were other standouts.
Raquine Johnson scored 16 points and Carlos Chandler added 15 for the defeated Ka-Roos. Other scorers for Rancier (5-3) were Juwuan Wright and C.J. Bobbitt (four points each) and McLane Matthews (three).
The Grizzlies and Ka-Roos will play in the district tournament on Monday at Killeen High School.
Nolan 7A 26, Manor 7A 23 — Keondre Parker scored 17 points, including nine of Nolan's 10 in the decisive fourth quarter, to lead the Mustangs to a victory.
Dominique Harris and Drequan Jackson added three points each. Garrett Hall had one.
The game was tied at 16 entering the final period. Jackson hit a jumper with just under three minutes remaining to give the Mustangs the lead for good.
Other standouts for the Mustangs were Brett Williams, Marcus Godwin and Chris Barber.
Live Oak Ridge 7A 45, Liberty Hill 7A 33 — At Liberty Hill, Kelvon Glass led the defeated Lions with 10 points.
Other scorers for Liberty Hill (4-3) were Chris Taylor (nine ponits), Wade Bellomy (six), T'Mond Johnson (four) and Tariq Johns and Willie Smith (two each).
The 7A Lions begin postseason tournament play on 5:30 p.m. Monday at home against Manor.
Smith 7A def. Charles Patterson 7A — Nick Perez had 24 points and nine steals for the Leopards, who finished the season as National Division champs.
Other contributors for Smith were Danlandi Young (11 rebounds, five points, three blocks, three steals) and Ishmael Price and Kain Williams (nine points each).
Liberty Hill 7B 23, Live Oak Ridge 7B 20 — At Liberty Hill, Donte' Gibson scored 14 points to lead the Lions to a win in a see-saw game.
Other scorers for Liberty Hill (6-1) were Frankie Williams (three points) and Delvon Glass (two).
Manor 7B 28, Nolan 7B 18 — Christian Manalang led the defeated Mustangs with 14 points and six rebounds.
Other contributors for Nolan were Justin Marin (10 rebounds, two points), Michael Eveans (two points), Alvin Amos (six rebounds), Malik Shaw (two rebounds) and defensive standout Amos, who defended three different players in the post without a sub and limited them to a total of eight points.
Union Grove 7B 26, Rancier 7B 8 — Thai Goodwin scored 10 points and the Grizzlies finished an undefeated season.
Other scorers for Union Grove (8-0) were Chris Henderson (eight points), Corey Shedrock (four) and Taylor Norvell and Jaelin Lewis (two each).
Kevon Byrd, Leviere Rice, Trevon Thompson and Jeremiah Mendiola each scored two points for Rancier. Other standouts were Ryan Barile, Keone Hayes, Shaheem Freeman and Jabaris Hill.
Charles Patterson 7B 21, Smith 7B 12 — Kristjann Hisole led the defeated Leopards with five points.
Garrison Saina had eight rebounds three blocks and four steals.
Nolan 8A 56, Manor 8A 45, OT — Desmond Rice scored 19 points, including 9-of-10 free throws as the Mustangs dominated the overtime session to beat the Rams.
Nolan led in regulation with 8 seconds remaining but Manor tied the game, forcing the extra period.
Led by Rice, the Mustangs outscored the Rams 13-2 in overtime for their second straight victory.
Jh'mal Gatewood added 14 points, five assists and five steals. Joshua Shortte put in eight points and had four steals. D'Angelo Bryant hustled his way to eight points and seven rebounds. Anthony Harding had two points, and dominated the glass, hauling in 20 rebounds. Jose Rodriguez-Padro and Fred Delano each had two points. Devonne Mills and Tyler James were defensive standouts.
Smith 8A 56, Charles Patterson 8A 55, OT — Brian Long scored 28 points and the Leopards outlasted the Cavaliers in overtime to clinch the division championship.
Other scorers for Smith were Ziere Banner (13 points) and Lamont Sams (11).
The Cavaliers (5-2, 3-1 division) trailed most of the way but tied it up by the end of regulation with a 20-point fourth quarter.
Khristopher Dewalt led Patterson with 19 points. Terry Woodard and Marcus Jackson each had 12 points. Simon Hurst and Harold Bell each had six. Other contributors were Joey Quintanal, Brian Brite, Anthony Brown, Malik Zenon and Nathaniel Renaud.
Smith's next game will be Friday at Smith against the winner of Liberty Hills and Audie Murphy. The Cavaliers will also be in action on Friday.
Manor 8B 8A 41, Nolan 8B 11 — Dayshilon Ranch led the defeated Mustangs with nine points. Chris Duirden added two points. Archie Walters grabbed five rebounds. Jamez Scott, Joseph Delph, James Salisbury and Jamarus Banks were other standouts.
GIRLS
Palo Alto 8A 48, Eastern Hills 8A 37 — Akiera Spear scored 20 points and the Lady Patriots came up with 23 steals en route to a victory.
Other scorers for Palo Alto were Jessica Young and Ashley Lemons (10 points each), Francesca Patrick (four), and Shalese Grant and Jaleea Bonnell (two each).
The 8A Lady Patriots will play next Thursday in the District Tournament.
Union Grove 8A 35, Rancier 8A 22 — Kennetra Hill scored 12 points and the Grizzlies finished the regular season undefeated.
Other scorers for Union Grove were Chante Mitchell (nine points), Angela Delaney (eight, including two 3-pointers), Kyla Menefee (four) and Aiyana Jones (two).
Liberty Hill 8A 41, Eastern Hills 8A 19 — Amani Dashiell had 21 points and 10 steals for the winning Lady Lions.
Other contributors for Liberty Hill were Jherika Ford (six points), Jade Brady (six points, three steals), Jamirra Wilborn (six points) and Eliza Brownfield (two points).
Smith 8A 26, Charles Patterson 8A 23 — Malaika Randolph led the defeated Lady Cavaliers with eight points and three steals.
It was Patterson's first loss in division play.
Other contributors for Patterson were Nalijah Smith (seven points and two steals), Kira Grenier (four points), Konstance Lewis (two points) and Raliaha Lightner and Donna Skinner (one point each).
Charles Patterson 8B 15, Smith 8B 8 — Altonio Whipple had eight points and four steals and the Lady Cavaliers shut out the Lady Leopards in the second and fourth quarters en route a win.
Kailey Cassidy and Alexis Anderson chipped in two points apiece.Kayla Rodgers had three steals and one point. Brittany Matthews had three rebounds and two steals. Breanna Wright, Ebonee Jackson and Brianna Villegas were other standouts.
Liberty Hill 8B 20, Eastern Hills 8B 14 — Merriah Hines scored seven points to lead the Lady Lions to a win.
Other contributors for Liberty Hill were Angel Henry (six points), Courtney Thomas (five points, two steals) and Yasmeen Moore (two points, two steals)
Palo Alto 8B 16, Eastern Hills 8B 6 — Keneisha Robinson and Danielle Peters each had six points and the Lady Patriots capped a perfect 6-0 season.
Decara Walters and Erica Glover each added two points.
Charles Patterson 7A 36, Smith 7A 5 — Jordanna Porter had 10 points, three assists, three rebounds and four steals and the Lady Cavaliers finished the regular season unbeaten at 7-0.
Other contributors for Patterson were Raven Ringo (eight points, four assists, three steals), Bryanna Sanchez (six points, four steals), Dusti Douglas (four points, three assists), Sophia Kennedy (four points, three rebounds, four assists), Alexis Watson (two points), Alexius McLendon (two points), Rebecca McAdoo (five rebounds) and Charnille Bynog.
Palo Alto 7A 24, Eastern Hills 7A 17 — Yarixza Rowser scored eight points to lead the Lady Patriots to a win.
Other scorers for Palo Alto were Brittany Snowden (six points), Brea Bishop (four) and Atiana Bailey and Alonshae Lindsey (two each).
Palo Alto 7B 30, Eastern Hills 7B 6 — Jayla Sanders led the Lasdy Patriots to victory with 10 points.
Asia Penick and Kendra Mosson each added six points.
Liberty Hill 7B 20, Live Oak Ridge 7B 13 — Triana Mayshack scored 10 points in the Lady Lions win.
Other scorers for Liberty Hill were Daijuana Johnson and Miranda Tapia (four points each) and Krysten Tunstull (two).
Liberty Hill 7A 34, Live Oak Ridge 7A 25 — Alexis Weisheit scored 12 points and the Lady Lions won their regular season finale and finished second in their division.
Other scorers for Liberty Hill were Jasonica Moore (10 points), Jonalynn Rojas (eight) and Mykeala Aranda and Claire Brownfield (two each).
The 7A Lady Lions return to action Thursday at home at 5:30 p.m. in the district tournament.
Local youth shine in iHoops Skills Challenge
On Jan. 18, local youngsters ages 9 to 14 had the opportunity to participate in the Inaugural iHoops Skills Challenge held at the Avenue E Gymnasium in Copperas Cove. This national basketball skills competition provides boys and girls a free opportunity to showcase their basketball abilities in a time-based, half-court obstacle course. The iHoops Skills Challenge focuses on basketball skill development while encouraging participation in the game.
More than 35 participants competed in the iHoops Skills Challenge Local Competition, hosted by STARZZ Basketball and supported by the City of Copperas Cove Parks and Recreation Department.
First-place Local Competition Champions earned the opportunity to compete in the Regional Competition, to be held later this spring. This is one of 29 Regional Competitions being held in NBA team markets across the country and Canada.
FIRST PLACE
Boys
Age 9/10 Spenser Jones
Age 11/12 V. Allen Pons
Age 13/14 Kariem Johnson
Girls
Age 9/10 Naudia Wilkins
Age 11/12 Alex Wilson
Age 13/14 Mikayla Blount
SECOND PLACE
Boys
Age 9/10 Qadir Tolliver
Age 11/12 Devante Robinson
Age 13/14 Qwoy Blunt Johnson
Girls
Age 9/10 Rita Phillips
Age 11/12 Nancy Jones
Age 13/14 Alexandria Perez
THIRD PLACE
Boys
Age 11/12 Dylan Shoemaker
Age 13/14 Jamel Post
Girls
Age 9/10 Charlene Shepherd
Age 11/12 LaPraisjah Johnson
Age 13/14 Quandrey Tolliver