Need a sure sign that football season is approaching? The Pro-Am summer league hits the playoffs.
Tonight was the first of three playoff dates for the summer hoops league, as all eight teams were in action. By the end of the night, four were left standing for Monday's semifinals.
SOUTH HILLS AUDI 89, CRONS 79
South Hills got its floor general back, and Lance Jeter's return meant the end of the road for CRONS. That also might mean that we won't see Elijah Minnie or Ryan Skovranko again until Robert Morris suits up, which would be a shame since we saw them just twice this summer.
In their absence, CRONS got 33 points from Cam Wright and 25 points from Duquesne's Derrick Colter. That just wasn't enough to combat Jeter's 26 points and 15 assists. The veteran point guard had plenty of help, too, as cousin Sheldon Jeter chipped in 22 points and 11 rebounds.
SYSTEM ONE 122, GNC 92
System One has been one of the other top teams in the summer league, and they got all they could handle for a while from a Karvel Anderson-less GNC. With Anderson no longer in town, Aaron Johnson took over as top scorer, dumping in a summer league high of 38 points and 11 rebounds. Freshman Jafar Kinsey had a good game for GNC, too, scoring 19 points while picking up two rebounds and two assists. Lionel Gomis had a rough shooting night (1-of-12) and had just five rebounds. Gomis had a really strong summer, though, and averaged close to 10 rebounds per game.
The usual suspects led System One. Mike Young had a dominant night with 42 points. He's easily been one of the stars of the summer. James Robinson flirted with a triple-double (8 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists), while Duquesne's Micah Mason was an impressive 11-of-14 from the floor for 25 points. Robert Morris' Marcquise Reed had a solid game with 16 points, but he was shortchanged several rebounds and assists (credited with zero). Aaron Tate had 11 points and 6 rebounds.
Reed and Kinsey went up against each other quite a bit and it was a good match-up. Kinsey forced Reed off balance a few times, while Reed's length bothered Kinsey a few times, even creating a couple turnovers.
SHALE ATTORNEY 104, UPMC 78
With Duquesne duo Eric James and Rene Castro combining for 55 points, UPMC just didn't have a chance. Shale Attorney got 29 from James and 26 from Castro, which was enough to shake off a rare off night from Charles Oliver. The sharpshooter went just 4-of-12 from the floor, including 2-of-8 from 3-point range to finish with 11 points.
On the other end, Kavon Stewart was back to struggling with his shot (1-of-8) and he ended up with six points. Stewart did attack the boards, though, and had eight rebounds to go with three assists. Andre Frederick had a quiet night with two points and three rebounds. The freshman big man hasn't stood out much. Maybe he's bothered still by the knee that's wrapped in a brace or maybe he has some work to do. Either way, he has a few months to work through yet before the season gets here.
PGT 108, BAKERY SQUARE 99
Poor Aaron Tate was on the losing end of two games tonight, as he helped out a shorthanded Bakery Square squad. Tate's team made it interesting late, but PGT had too much firepower. Pitt's Josh Newkirk was strong yet again, scoring 38 points while teammate Derrick Randall had 17 points and 15 rebounds. Duquesne's Jeremiah Jones chipped in 18 points.
Perhaps more revelatory was Lucky Jones' performance for PGT. He's been among the leading scorers all summer, and he once again had a good night, finishing with 28 points. He's also had good rebounding numbers, and he hauled down six boards on Monday. The surprise? How about 11 assists from Jones? He's just the second player all summer not named Lance Jeter to have double-figure assist totals (the other was Kavon Stewart).
Joe Uchebo had 24 points and 19 rebounds for Bakery Square. Tate had 10 points and 5 rebounds, as well as a nice, emphatic slam in traffic.
Both semifinal games will be Monday in the main gym at Montour. The first tips at 7, with the second following it. The championship game will be Wednesday at 7:30.
Tonight was the first of three playoff dates for the summer hoops league, as all eight teams were in action. By the end of the night, four were left standing for Monday's semifinals.
SOUTH HILLS AUDI 89, CRONS 79
South Hills got its floor general back, and Lance Jeter's return meant the end of the road for CRONS. That also might mean that we won't see Elijah Minnie or Ryan Skovranko again until Robert Morris suits up, which would be a shame since we saw them just twice this summer.
In their absence, CRONS got 33 points from Cam Wright and 25 points from Duquesne's Derrick Colter. That just wasn't enough to combat Jeter's 26 points and 15 assists. The veteran point guard had plenty of help, too, as cousin Sheldon Jeter chipped in 22 points and 11 rebounds.
SYSTEM ONE 122, GNC 92
System One has been one of the other top teams in the summer league, and they got all they could handle for a while from a Karvel Anderson-less GNC. With Anderson no longer in town, Aaron Johnson took over as top scorer, dumping in a summer league high of 38 points and 11 rebounds. Freshman Jafar Kinsey had a good game for GNC, too, scoring 19 points while picking up two rebounds and two assists. Lionel Gomis had a rough shooting night (1-of-12) and had just five rebounds. Gomis had a really strong summer, though, and averaged close to 10 rebounds per game.
The usual suspects led System One. Mike Young had a dominant night with 42 points. He's easily been one of the stars of the summer. James Robinson flirted with a triple-double (8 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists), while Duquesne's Micah Mason was an impressive 11-of-14 from the floor for 25 points. Robert Morris' Marcquise Reed had a solid game with 16 points, but he was shortchanged several rebounds and assists (credited with zero). Aaron Tate had 11 points and 6 rebounds.
Reed and Kinsey went up against each other quite a bit and it was a good match-up. Kinsey forced Reed off balance a few times, while Reed's length bothered Kinsey a few times, even creating a couple turnovers.
SHALE ATTORNEY 104, UPMC 78
With Duquesne duo Eric James and Rene Castro combining for 55 points, UPMC just didn't have a chance. Shale Attorney got 29 from James and 26 from Castro, which was enough to shake off a rare off night from Charles Oliver. The sharpshooter went just 4-of-12 from the floor, including 2-of-8 from 3-point range to finish with 11 points.
On the other end, Kavon Stewart was back to struggling with his shot (1-of-8) and he ended up with six points. Stewart did attack the boards, though, and had eight rebounds to go with three assists. Andre Frederick had a quiet night with two points and three rebounds. The freshman big man hasn't stood out much. Maybe he's bothered still by the knee that's wrapped in a brace or maybe he has some work to do. Either way, he has a few months to work through yet before the season gets here.
PGT 108, BAKERY SQUARE 99
Poor Aaron Tate was on the losing end of two games tonight, as he helped out a shorthanded Bakery Square squad. Tate's team made it interesting late, but PGT had too much firepower. Pitt's Josh Newkirk was strong yet again, scoring 38 points while teammate Derrick Randall had 17 points and 15 rebounds. Duquesne's Jeremiah Jones chipped in 18 points.
Perhaps more revelatory was Lucky Jones' performance for PGT. He's been among the leading scorers all summer, and he once again had a good night, finishing with 28 points. He's also had good rebounding numbers, and he hauled down six boards on Monday. The surprise? How about 11 assists from Jones? He's just the second player all summer not named Lance Jeter to have double-figure assist totals (the other was Kavon Stewart).
Joe Uchebo had 24 points and 19 rebounds for Bakery Square. Tate had 10 points and 5 rebounds, as well as a nice, emphatic slam in traffic.
Both semifinal games will be Monday in the main gym at Montour. The first tips at 7, with the second following it. The championship game will be Wednesday at 7:30.
