IU Recruits Escape With 102-101 Win
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
While much of the basketball world was in debate over what the Chicago Bulls would choose to do with the first pick in Wednesday night's NBA draft, an estimated 350 fans at Warsaw Community High School watched three current and one former Tiger player, as well as other local players, as they went toe to toe with three recruits for next fall's Indiana University team.
And they were with them almost every step of the way.
Team Indiana, coached by Tim Knight, the son of IU coach Bob Knight, was forced to connect on two free throws with three seconds remaining in the second of two 20-minute halves to bring home the 102-101 victory.
Tiffany's, a local AAU team comprising players from the area including Warsaw's Steve Siebenmorgen, Chris Rhodes and Chris Wiggins, took a 95-93 lead on a three-pointer by 1990 WCHS graduate Brian Elliott, who was just filling in last night. Elliott gave Tiffany's a 101-100 lead before an errant foul sent Team Indiana to the charity stripe, where they connected on the aforementioned free throws.
Tiffany's was led by Siebenmorgen's 30 points. Elliott, a 1994 graduate of Grace College and a professional player in Australia for two years, and Northridge's Aaron Thomas chipped in 20 and 16 points, respectively. Rhodes and Wiggins tallied seven and three points respectively for Tiffany's.
Team Indiana was led in the scoring column by 1998 Mr. Basketball Tom Coverdale of Noblesville and his 20 points. IU recruits George Leach (6-10, Charlotte, N.C.) and Jeff Newton (6-9, Atlanta, Ga.) added 19 points each. Warsaw's Ross Kesler chipped in with 16 points, while Greg Seiss and Zach Nelson contributed eight and seven points, respectively.
On his 43rd birthday, another victory over team Indiana would've been nice for Tiffany's coach Bryce Elkins, who has coached the local AAU team for three years. But Elkins, who has coached AAU teams for a total of 15 years, knows that the games are for the fans and nobody really walks away a loser.
"It would've been nice," said Elkins. "It doesn't matter who wins or loses. The attitude is what I like. They all love to play and they all love to win."
Tiffany's defeated Team Indiana last Thursday 124-116.
For Team Indiana the games are a chance for the recruits to get to know each other.
"The biggest thing is they (IU recruits) get to play together," said Tim Knight. "They can get to know each other on and off the court instead of coming in August first as strangers. And the fans like it. They like to see the local guys play with the IU guys."
After signing autographs for nearly 20 minutes, Leach was asked what he got out of the game.
"I liked the physicality of the game," said Leach. "I have a couple broken fingernails. We got to play with some of these guys and some of them are big."
Leach was referring to Jason Elkins of Columbia City, who, Leach said, "Pushed me around and made my knees knock.
"We get to practice stuff we don't normally get to do," Leach said of the game with Tiffany's. "We can work on different moves and find our patented moves. Me and Tom (Coverdale) found out we have a pick and roll."
At one point in the game Coverdale underhanded a pass off the backboard for Leach who followed and put the ball down with two hands of authority.
According to Leach, he was recruited by all the major schools in the North Carolina area, including Duke and North Carolina. Leach said he turned them down because there were already too many good players at his position.
What drew him to Indiana?
"Tradition, a good point guard and fan support," said Leach. "Y'all crazy (about basketball)."
Asked about the bad media attention Bob Knight gets, Leach said "It's all in one ear and out the other. I don't care about that stuff."
Tiffany's will be involved in the national AAU tournament in Orlando, Fla., from July 20-25. According to Elkins at least 150 teams will be there. Tiffany's has lost only two games, and, according to Elkins, has played at least 30.
Team Indiana will be in action tonight at Bellmont High School. Team Indiana, who, according to Tim Knight will being playing their 15th game together tonight, has lost three times.
TEAM INDIANA 102, TIFFANY'S 101
Team Indiana 52 50 - 102
Tiffany's 43 58 - 101
Team Indiana - Tom Coverdale 20, Ross Kesler 16, George Leach 19, Zach Nelson 30, Jeff Newton 19, Mike Roberts 13, Greg Seiss 8.
Tiffany's - Jason Elkins 6, Brian Elliott 20, Brad Gulick 5, Chris Rhodes 7, Steve Siebenmorgen 30, Aaron Thomas 16, David Wayne 5, Chris Wiggins 3, Brandon Webb 9. [[In-content Ad]]
While much of the basketball world was in debate over what the Chicago Bulls would choose to do with the first pick in Wednesday night's NBA draft, an estimated 350 fans at Warsaw Community High School watched three current and one former Tiger player, as well as other local players, as they went toe to toe with three recruits for next fall's Indiana University team.
And they were with them almost every step of the way.
Team Indiana, coached by Tim Knight, the son of IU coach Bob Knight, was forced to connect on two free throws with three seconds remaining in the second of two 20-minute halves to bring home the 102-101 victory.
Tiffany's, a local AAU team comprising players from the area including Warsaw's Steve Siebenmorgen, Chris Rhodes and Chris Wiggins, took a 95-93 lead on a three-pointer by 1990 WCHS graduate Brian Elliott, who was just filling in last night. Elliott gave Tiffany's a 101-100 lead before an errant foul sent Team Indiana to the charity stripe, where they connected on the aforementioned free throws.
Tiffany's was led by Siebenmorgen's 30 points. Elliott, a 1994 graduate of Grace College and a professional player in Australia for two years, and Northridge's Aaron Thomas chipped in 20 and 16 points, respectively. Rhodes and Wiggins tallied seven and three points respectively for Tiffany's.
Team Indiana was led in the scoring column by 1998 Mr. Basketball Tom Coverdale of Noblesville and his 20 points. IU recruits George Leach (6-10, Charlotte, N.C.) and Jeff Newton (6-9, Atlanta, Ga.) added 19 points each. Warsaw's Ross Kesler chipped in with 16 points, while Greg Seiss and Zach Nelson contributed eight and seven points, respectively.
On his 43rd birthday, another victory over team Indiana would've been nice for Tiffany's coach Bryce Elkins, who has coached the local AAU team for three years. But Elkins, who has coached AAU teams for a total of 15 years, knows that the games are for the fans and nobody really walks away a loser.
"It would've been nice," said Elkins. "It doesn't matter who wins or loses. The attitude is what I like. They all love to play and they all love to win."
Tiffany's defeated Team Indiana last Thursday 124-116.
For Team Indiana the games are a chance for the recruits to get to know each other.
"The biggest thing is they (IU recruits) get to play together," said Tim Knight. "They can get to know each other on and off the court instead of coming in August first as strangers. And the fans like it. They like to see the local guys play with the IU guys."
After signing autographs for nearly 20 minutes, Leach was asked what he got out of the game.
"I liked the physicality of the game," said Leach. "I have a couple broken fingernails. We got to play with some of these guys and some of them are big."
Leach was referring to Jason Elkins of Columbia City, who, Leach said, "Pushed me around and made my knees knock.
"We get to practice stuff we don't normally get to do," Leach said of the game with Tiffany's. "We can work on different moves and find our patented moves. Me and Tom (Coverdale) found out we have a pick and roll."
At one point in the game Coverdale underhanded a pass off the backboard for Leach who followed and put the ball down with two hands of authority.
According to Leach, he was recruited by all the major schools in the North Carolina area, including Duke and North Carolina. Leach said he turned them down because there were already too many good players at his position.
What drew him to Indiana?
"Tradition, a good point guard and fan support," said Leach. "Y'all crazy (about basketball)."
Asked about the bad media attention Bob Knight gets, Leach said "It's all in one ear and out the other. I don't care about that stuff."
Tiffany's will be involved in the national AAU tournament in Orlando, Fla., from July 20-25. According to Elkins at least 150 teams will be there. Tiffany's has lost only two games, and, according to Elkins, has played at least 30.
Team Indiana will be in action tonight at Bellmont High School. Team Indiana, who, according to Tim Knight will being playing their 15th game together tonight, has lost three times.
TEAM INDIANA 102, TIFFANY'S 101
Team Indiana 52 50 - 102
Tiffany's 43 58 - 101
Team Indiana - Tom Coverdale 20, Ross Kesler 16, George Leach 19, Zach Nelson 30, Jeff Newton 19, Mike Roberts 13, Greg Seiss 8.
Tiffany's - Jason Elkins 6, Brian Elliott 20, Brad Gulick 5, Chris Rhodes 7, Steve Siebenmorgen 30, Aaron Thomas 16, David Wayne 5, Chris Wiggins 3, Brandon Webb 9. [[In-content Ad]]