By JOHN LIKANJE
Keith Slack scored 22 points to lead the U17 Rochester Area Players (RAP) Stars to a 73-68 victory over the New Jersey Shoreshots in the championship of the Pitt Jam Fest, April 28th at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Gates-Chili senior handed out four assists, collected four rebounds and swiped a steal to earn Most Valuable Player honors. Justice Smith scored 17 points, grabbed eight rebounds and handed two assists. The Lyons senior sparked the Stars early by raining in a couple of three-pointers. Jermaine Taggart netted 16 points, collected eight rebounds and blocked a shot. The McQuaid junior rose up and threw down a thunderous dunk as the Stars built a six-point halftime edge. UPrep senior Jakhi Lucas had 13 points, five boards, five assists and three steals. Cardinal O’Hara (VI) senior Justin Hemphill finished with two points, 10 rebounds, an assist and a block. The Stars built a double-digit lead in the second half and held on for a wire-to-wire victory. This was the RAP Stars’ first title in three appearances at this tournament. Other scorers- Logan Blakenberg (Wayne)(2), Nick Carmichael (Wayne)(2), Ulysses Riley (2).
RAP STARS 70
CONNECTICUT PREMIER HOOPS 67
Taggart scored 15 of his team-high 31 points in the second half as the Stars overcame early foul trouble and a double-digit deficit in the second half to win their first game of the tournament. The junior guard corralled 11 rebounds, handed out a pair of assists and blocked a shot. Slack netted 12 of his 22 points in the first half as the Stars surged to a 12-point lead. The senior guard dished out five assists, swiped two steals and collected a rebound. The Stars staged a furious comeback over a five-minute stretch and regained a lead they did not relinquish with four minutes remaining in the game. This win avenged a loss from two weeks ago in the New York City Big Apple Showcase. Other scorers- Lucas (8), Smith (7), Hemphill (4)
RHODE ISLAND ELITE 66
RAP STARS 71
Slack scored a team-high 26 points, dished out five assists, collected two rebounds and swiped two steals to lead the Stars to a title game berth. Taggart had 15 points, eight boards and a pair of assists. Smith contributed 12 points, six rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot. Hemphill netted five points, hauled in a team-high 14 rebounds, swiped a pair of steals, blocked two shots and handed out an assist. The Stars ran out to an early 8-0 lead and a six-point halftime edge. The Stars opened the second half with a 10-2 run for a 14-point advantage and held on for the victory. Other scorers- Lucas (8), Carmichael (3), Antonio Jones (2), Colton Dillon (Elba)(1)
This tournament featured 570 teams and 200 college coaches. Five RAP Stars players received college offers or had direct interest contact from college coaches and preparatory schools.
The RAP Stars’ next event is the AAU National Championship Qualifier/Niagara District Championships on Saturday and Sunday in Seneca Falls, New York.
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