The Nashville Celtics 17s showed that they will once again be a force to be reckoned with during the spring and summer travel basketball circuit. In their first event of the year, Real Deal in the Rock in Little Rock, Arkansas, the Celtics were able to advance to the semifinals in one of the toughest events of the year.
The Celtics started pool play with a 12 point win against the Full Court Athletes. The Celtics followed up there Friday night victory with two pool play wins over Tulsa Hawks and the powerful KC Keys. With a 3-0 record in pool play, the Celtics advanced into the championship bracket and were able to squeeze out a hard fought 6 point victory over the Louisiana Future. With the first round of the tournament behind them, the Celtics prepared to face the media darlings and hometown favorites of the event, the Nike sponsored Arkansas Wings. The Celtics were prepared and came out firing. Alex Poythress made an early statement as he drove the lane and proceeded to posterize Wings’ big man and University of Arkansas prospect Hunter Mickelson. Conor McDermott, Whit Thorton and Poythress continued to dominate the paint which then allowed for the Celtics guards to take over. Kendall Anthony, Anthony Hickey, ZavionWilliams and Dre Barnette were virtually unstoppable. They were knocking down 3s, hitting the midrange jumpers and attacking the rim as if they had something to prove. Zavion Williams was extra special in this contest finishing with 20 points to lead the team, and Hickey was a magician with the high pick and roll. As the Wings tried to adjust to the guards, it was time for the Celtics wings to take off. The Wings began double teaming the Celtics guards which opened up shots for Poythress, Mark Brown and Dre Barnette, boy did these guys take advantage. Brown came through with a couple three as did Barnette and Poythress was filling it up from the midrange and attacking the bucket. When the Wings rushed the shooters, the Celtics’ guards were able to find McDermott and Thorton to finish things off. And finishing tings off the Celtics did as they cruised to a 20 point victory.
The victory over the Wings set up a showdown against the Southern Kings on the Main Court on Sunday morning. While 8am games always seem to be tough, the Celtics didn’t sleep on the Kings. The Celtics jumped out to an early 15 point lead and sailed to an easy 30 point victory. The victory earned the Celtics a date with the ultra talented Franchise All Stars. The victory was a total team effort. Kendall Anthony was knocking down 3s and creating havoc in the lane while the combination of Hickey to McDermott and Poythress could not be stopped. Zavion Williams was a thief on defense and Whit Thorton attacked the bucket with the aggressive play we grown to expect from him.
In the semifinals, it was a game to remember. It was an epic battle with two teams neither of which wanted to lose. The Celtics jumped out to an early lead behind the stellar play of Alex Poythress and Kendall Anthony, but Franchise got hot. The Celtics did not back down though. Hickey and Poythress were knocking down big shots and McDermott was getting put-backs like it was his job. Williams made some key steals to keep things close. Then, late in the game, the Celtics found themselves down 6 with a minute to play when Zavion Williams hit a big 3 to pull them within 3. The Celtics fouled and sent Franchise to the line where they proceeded to miss both free throws. The Celtics got a driving lay-up from Kendall Anthony and fouled again. Franchise proceeded to hit 1 of 2 free throw. The Celtics down 2 had to go the length of the court. Unfortunately, Franchise had fouls to give and it seemed the clock would run out. However, the crafty play of Anthony surfaced…Anthony, anticipating the foul, goes into his shooting motion and gets fouled on a 3 pointer. With ice water in his veins, Anthony knocks down all 3 free throw to put the Celtics up 1 with 13 seconds. Unfortunately, Franchise comes down and a foul is called with 6 seconds. They make both free throws to go up 1 and things look bleak for the Celtics. It was not over yet. The Celtics had the ball at mid court with 4 seconds left. Anthony received the in-bounds pass and drove the lane. With guys all over him, he got up a shot but it rolled off the side of the rim.
The guys executed the end of the game senarios perfectly which put them in a position to win. I could not have been more proud of the way the guys played. They played together; they played as a team; they played with heart; and they accomplished a lot more than anyone (other than us) expected. This group has a tremendous amount of talent, and I expect big things from them as we continue through the season.
Great job!
