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King of the Dream - 2nd Place Chicago, Illinois |
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TEXAS AMBASSADORS BASKETBALL CLUB |
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The trip started with an exhibition game in inner city Chicago against
the Chicago Boys Club, recent 3rd place finishers in the Chicago "Real
Deal Tournament". Texas got off to a fast start as Chip Ivany of
Pflugerville Park Crest hit 4 three pointers while Nathaniel Maas of
Wimberley added 11 in a rout with the Ambassadors winning a very physical
game 62-48. |
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 Saturday
began the "King of the Dream Tournament", and the Ambassadors opened with
a 53-27 win over the Chicago AAU Jaguars. 6'6" Nathaniel Maas of Wimberley
Middle School led the way with 14 points, and Jermaine Beal of DeSoto East
Middle School added 11 and provided great leadership at the point guard
position. The second game of the day saw the Ambassadors trounce an
overmatched Highwood Tigers team 48-22. Once again the twin towers of Maas
and 6'5" Durrell Arthur of Dallas Zuwalt Middle School led the way. Maas
had 15, while Arthur had 9 and controlled the boards. The final game on
Saturday saw the Ambassadors beat the Memorial Park Wildcats 46-42 on some
clutch free throw shooting to end the game. Jermmaine Beal led all scorers
with 18. |
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 Sunday
morning in the final game of pool play the Ambassadors remained undefeated
with a convincing 53-28 victory over the Suburban Wildcats, a team from
the South Chicago-Gary, Indiana area. Beal had 15 points and Ivany 14 for
the winners. The championship game was a rematch between the Ambassadors
and Memorial Park. Organizers of the long running tournament were quoted
as saying that it was one of the most exciting championship games in
Chicago youth basketball history. The game swung back and forth
repeatedly, going into double overtime. With 6 seconds remaining Maas hit
a major league hook shot to give the Ambassadors a one point lead.
Memorial Park in bounded the ball and took a desperation 3 point shot from
3/4 court.....and it swished in! The Texas players and coaches looked on
in disbelief as the buzzer beater decided the game 48-46. Beal and Arthur
had 11 points each, and Maas had 9. The kids proudly accepted their 2nd
place trophies showing they were winners on and off the court. They
represented their various Texas communities with class and distinction
throughout the trip. |
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| Copyright 2004. All rights reserved. Texas Basketball Inc. | ||
Other
players are Joshua Gonzalez of Taylor Middle School, Kevin Slater of
Austin St. Austin's and Hakima Haule of Westlake Hill Country all of which
played solid defense and contributed to the overall team chemistry. The
final player to be mentioned is Lamar McCutcheon, a dynamic 6th grade
guard from Austin Pierce Middle School. Lamar "wooed" the crowd on many
occasions with his ball handling wizardry, and selflessly handed out
assists throughout the tournament. The Ambassadors are coached by Max
Ivany, and are sponsored by Coach Ivany and his wife, Mary through their
business Beautiful Concrete Coatings.