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AAU Update: Michael T. White National Tournament Results
By Sue Favor
Correspondent
Photo Caption: Mykayla Lyles (22) sets up the play for JBS Purple against EBX Black II in the title game, Tuesday, July 28. JBS held off an EBX surge to win, 36-33. Lyles finished with 15 points.
Photo Credit: Full Court/Sue Favor
Just Believe Sports (JBS) Purple survived a challenge from EBX Black I in Tuesday’s title game to take the 17-and-Under National Division title at the Michael T. White Tournament at Mater Dei High School, Santa Ana, California, 36-33.
In the Signature Division, EBX Black II rallied from a nine-point second-half deficit to defeat Cal Sparks Silver for the championship, 42-33.
JBS won handily throughout the tournament, defeating the Cy-Fair Comets Elite and the Irvine Sol in opening rounds. But it was their dominating performance against Cal Sparks Gold on Day Two that made them look like the team to beat. Though the final score was 46-36, there were times when they led the Sparks by 20 points or more.
JBS went on to defeat eventual third-place team, Tree of Hope, before facing EBX Black I in the title game. Guard Mykayla Lyles lead her team in scoring with 15, while Ariel Thomas added 12, in the final.
Posing for pictures outside afterward, many players—as well as Coach Sean Chambers—had tears of joy in their eyes.
“We’re just so happy right now because we dominated all the way through,” Chambers said. “This is such a great group of kids, and such a great group of parents.”
The tournament capped off a successful summer for the three-year-old club team, which was one of the Final Four teams in the Oregon City End of the Trail Tournament, and placed among the top teams in the Nike Nationals Chicago Tournament.
Chambers maintained that none of his starters were nationally ranked. But forward Sara James has verballed to Stanford, Thomas has signed with the University of Miami, Ohio, and Brittany Shine is considering five Division I schools right now.
“All the college coaches at this tournament know who these girls are,” Chambers said of his eight-member, all-senior team.
EBX II had a similarly convincing run through the tournament, knocking off Cal Swish Red, Cal Sparks 17s, Wisconsin Lakers and eventual third-place Mercadel on the way to the title game. For most of the finals’ matchup with Cal Sparks Silver, the lead didn’t exceed two or three points. But the Sparks went on a run in the second half, building up a nine-point lead, before EBX II woke up and made a run of their own.
“The girls felt really good about this win,” EBX II Coach Sam Sims said. “It was a complete team effort, and it meant a lot to them to come back from being down and win by nine.”
Center Kiara Harewood, who will be a junior this year, finished with 14 points while fellow incoming-junior guard Liz Coito put up 12.
Seattle’s Tree of Hope capped off a strong tournament effort with a 40-334 third-place win in the National Division over Utah Flight Blue. In the Signature Division, Team Mercadel of Orange County outlasted JBS Gray, 48-45, to take third place.
The tightly-run, three-day tournament attracted teams from California, Arizona, Texas, Montana, Utah, Wisconsin, Colorado, Oregon and Washington, as well as hundreds of NCAA coaches, including the legendary C. Vivian Stringer of Rutgers.
For many teams, this was the last major tournament of not only the July recruiting period, but of the summer.
“This is it,” Chambers said. “We’re just going to drive home now.”
 | Photo Caption: Leeah Powell fires off a shot for Cal Sparks Silver (light uniforms). They built a nine point lead late in the game, but EBX Black II came back to take the 17 and Under Signature Division title. |
| Photo Credit: Full Court/Sue Favor | |
 | Photo Caption: Seattle’s Tree of Hope (black uniforms) and Utah Flight Blue play for third and fourth place in the National Division Bracket. TOH won 40-34. |
| Photo Credit: Full Court/Sue Favor | |
 | Photo Caption: In the National Division, Cal Sparks Gold (dark uniforms) and Cal Sparks Black played for fifth and sixth in a friendly matchup. |
| Photo Credit: Full Court/Sue Favor | |
 | Photo Caption: BS Purple (orange uniforms) battles with Cyfair Comets Elite on the first day of tournament action, Sunday, July 26. Final score was JBS 48, Cyfair 24. |
| Photo Credit: Full Court/Sue Favor |
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