Hoyas in Pro City Kenner semifinals

August 10, 2014 - Sometimes summer league playoffs can be sort of anti-climatic in that players don't show, are tired, just go through the motions and/or the best teams don't make it. It can be part of the summer of the summer experience.

Did the 2014 Nike Pro City Kenner League follow suit? In a word, not; both games were well played, contested affairs, one even being a seeding upset.

For specific rundowns on G'Town guys Bradley Hayes, Jabril Trawick and Mikael Hopkins, see Premium Court. Aaron Bowen did not participate, as he reportedly went home.

DCX 83 Symonds 76

In a seeding upset - though the victors closed the regular season playing well and early on lost very close games - #8 DCX took down third slotted Symonds. Lang Reese's team used a fourth quarter 8-0 run to solidify a lead, one in which they expanded to 14 with around six minutes to play before holding off a charging Symonds squad.

As has occurred in recent games, DCX had its most success when getting stops and pushing into transition, while in half court settings riding the Hoya, Hayes, who finished with a game high 23 points. He scored inside and just outside the paint, versus the likes of professional player Gus Gilchrist and University of Tampa standout Eugene McCrory.

Northern Colorado's Corey Spence scored 16 points for DCX, while soon to arrive in Italy Davon Usher provided 14 and burgeoning professional Tristan Spurlock dropped 16 points for DCX.

McCrory and Gilchrist scored 14 and 13 points respectively for Symonds. Pro player Jasper Williams tied for his team high with 14 points, while ODU's Javonte Douglas logged 11 points.

Condolences: The Symonds family recently suffered a loss in the family, one that precluded Curtis Symonds from coaching the game. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the Symonds crew in this time of transition.

Oohs and Aahs 87 Team Takeover 86

In a barn burner of a game second seeded Oohs and Aahs had a 70-62 lead with 11 minutes to go, yet saw it equalized at the 2:30 mark. Team Takeover (#4), though, would never get closer. Failings at the charity stripe were crucial in their loss.

"I don't know what it is, maybe it's me, the coach" said Takeover's bench leader Kingston Price, "But last year we entered the playoffs first and didn't win it. This year we were fourth and didn't win it. This time around it was free throws that killed us".

Specifically, they went 3-8 on freebie attempts within the last two minutes. Despite that, G'Town's Trawick (18 points) had a key steal with just under 10 seconds remaining, but at the 2.8 second mark got his shot blocked by Maryland's Richaud Pack. Takeover's Chris Braswell had a chance after that. His shot went wide.

If Takeover can lament lost opportunities, Oohs and Aahs can revel in seized ones; Pack's block was just one (he finished with 16 points). GW player Patricio Garino played good defense, particularly in the first half, while William and Mary's Marcus Thornton took over within the last minute and half, scoring on drives and foul shot attempts. He finished with a game high 22 points.

Takeover's Braswell followed closely at 21 points, with Villanova guy Josh Hart equaling him. Mikael Hopkins of Georgetown tallied 17 points for Price's squad.

Garino logged 16 points for Oohs and Aahs. Loyola student athlete Tyler Hubbard finished with 11.

Ibn Muhammad - 5'8", 150 pound junior point guard, Iona, Team Takeover - Things were looking bleak for Ibn Muhammad just a month ago; a commitment to UNC-Greensboro had fallen through (the roster spot did not materialize as expected), and other possible opportunities like FAMU didn't pan out. After a stellar season at Harcum CC, Muhammad's collegiate career was in doubt.

Luckily University of Pikesville became an option for him, but then entered Iona, who Ibn noted "had lost a point guard two weeks ago". After weighing the two schools, Muhammad ultimately chose Iona since "It just felt it was a good destination".

Despite going to high school in the DMV at McNamara (MD), Muhammad shared "I'm from the area" - he grew up partially in greater Newark, NJ, with Iona being in the suburbs of New York City. The fact Iona "plays 94 feet, gets up and down and plays a lot of pick and roll", all strengths of his, sealed the deal.

During semifinal competition, Muhammad did all of that, while also showing all around quickness and defensive toughness - he's not afraid to mix it up.

At Iona, Ibn will have to show he can hit the open jumper with regularity, as well as continue to get stronger.