LV Select, Green Valley advance in open division

Defense...defense...and more defense.

That was the key to the Las Vegas Select's - a team comprised of Las Vegas prep all-stars - 70-53 win over the Columbus Bball Club on Friday in the Big-Time tournament at Silverado High School.

After playing a sluggish first half on the defensive side of the ball, Select coach Ken Bradley has one message at halftime. He simply told the squad to pick up the tempo on defense. They did just that, as Select responded by outscoring Columbus 40-30 in the second half in cruising to an easy win.

The victory improves Select's record in the tournament to 2-1 and move's them to the open division of the competition. Their next game is on Saturday at noon at Las Vegas High School.

"The defense (was the key)," Bradley said. "We stepped up the defense and put pressure on those guys. That's what we didn't do in the first game (72-51 loss to Texas Blue Chip)."

The defense also led to some offensive potency. Select held a slim 30-23 lead at halftime, before Columbus rallied to cut into the deficit and only trail 34-31. But, Jamal Ballard converted a three-point play and Chaparral's Matt Cox, Rancho's Shon Atkinson and Cheyenne's Eddie Shelby drained consecutive three-pointers to help give Select a lead they would never surrender Cox scored 12 of his team-high 18 points in the second half, while Atkinson scored 14 and Shelby finished with 12.

Getting on the same page offensively has been a struggle all tournament for Select. "That is the problem that happens when you select a team," Bradley said in regards to his improving offense. "We haven't had the whole team out to practice at once. There is no continuity." Josh Helon led Columbus with 14 points.

In other action, Green Valley put up a valiant fight for the first eight minutes before D.C. Assault ran away with an action-packed 87-61 win at Green Valley High School.

In front of big name college coaches like Roy Williams from Kansas and John Thompson from Georgetown, the Assault did not disappoint. Der Marr Johnson, one of the nation's top prospects, finished with 22 points, including 11 of his team's first 20 points. "When you play good people and make mistakes, it is two for them," Gators coach Larry Thomas said. "It forces you to work that much harder."

Green Valley owned brief leads of 5-3 and 9-6 early on before the Assault could heat up. Dwaine Schallenberger, a transfer from Montana posted six of Green Valley first 14 points and finished with a team high 17 points.

Cornell Williams added points to the Gators' offense. "The best I can call it is a learning experience," Williams said with a smile. "When we came out and ran our offense we did good at first. Then, we got out of the flow and things turned."

Green Valley finished bracket play with a 2-1 mark, advancing in the open division.

They play on Saturday at noon at Cimarron-Memorial.

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