Lynn Burke
04-14-2008, 08:56 AM
Ratliffe MVP of Boo's tournament
By Jason Jordan | jjordan@dailypress.com (jjordan@dailypress.com)
HAMPTON - Ricardo Ratliffe poured in 26 points per game for Kecoughtan High this season and won nearly every player of the year award in Virginia.
Kendall Marshall runs the point on one of the more storied basketball programs in the state, Bishop O'Connell, and is committed to North Carolina.
DeShawn Painter, who played at Booker T. Washington last season, is rated the No. 16 prospect in the class of 2009 and hears regularly from big-time programs like Florida, Kentucky and Duke.
None of that matters once they suit up for Boo Williams Summer League 17-and-under AAU team.
"Everyone is used to being 'the guy," Ratliffe said. "We had to put all of that aside and be a team."
The culmination of that collective attitude paid off Sunday when BWSL knocked off Athletes First of Oklahoma City, 77-69 to win the Boo Williams Invitational tournament at the Boo Williams Sportsplex.
Ratliffe was named the tournament's MVP, scoring 21 points off the bench and grabbing seven rebounds as the team finished the tournament 6-0. Painter added 11 points and six rebounds, while Steven Pledger, of Atlantic Shores, added 14 points.
BWSL 17-and-under B team won the bronze division title, 45-43, over The Family, out of Detroit. In other title games, Memphis beat King James 82-78 for the 17-and-under Silver title, Team STAT topped Baltimore State 69-57 for the 16-and-under, and Team Florida beat BWSL 64-60 in the 15-and-under final.
"It's not who starts the game, it's all about who finishes," said BWSL coach Boo Williams, whose team won the title for the fourth consecutive year. "Look at Ricardo. It's all about how you finish. They looked good this weekend. They looked like a team."
It didn't start that way.
Ratliffe said that a week ago on the first day of practice, everyone seemed to be playing their own game.
"It just seemed like everyone was out to get themselves looked at instead of getting the team looked at," he said. "Boo is trying to get everyone looked at and get everyone into college. So we became a team over this tournament. We're getting there. We definitely got better every game."
Marshawn Powell led Menchville to a Peninsula District title in 2007 before heading off to the Miller School in Charlottesville.
He said that, with all 14 players on the BWSL roster likely Division I-bound, egos must be checked at the door.
"I'm not gonna be the man every game," Powell said. "You can't worry about that. Do something else. I don't have to score every point, but I can try and grab every rebound. You've got to turn into a role player and be happy with the win."
Willliams added: "You've got a lot of guys that won't get noticed, but still played great. Jontel Evans had a great tournament, but didn't make the all-tournament team."
That's fine by Evans, who helped lead Bethel to its best ever record (30-2) and a runner-up finish in the state Group AAA tournament.
"Boo told me that he's had great players come off the bench," said Evans, who backs up Marshall. "I don't care about starting and all of that. I'm just trying to do my part to help us win. This is the perfect start to our AAU season."
Still, Williams said that he'll try and downplay Sunday's title when they head to Dallas on April 25 for their next event.
"The problem in the past is that we've done well in this tournament, but then hit a stump in the second tournament," Williams said. "We appreciate the kids, but we want to stay focused. It's a long spring and summer."
By Jason Jordan | jjordan@dailypress.com (jjordan@dailypress.com)
HAMPTON - Ricardo Ratliffe poured in 26 points per game for Kecoughtan High this season and won nearly every player of the year award in Virginia.
Kendall Marshall runs the point on one of the more storied basketball programs in the state, Bishop O'Connell, and is committed to North Carolina.
DeShawn Painter, who played at Booker T. Washington last season, is rated the No. 16 prospect in the class of 2009 and hears regularly from big-time programs like Florida, Kentucky and Duke.
None of that matters once they suit up for Boo Williams Summer League 17-and-under AAU team.
"Everyone is used to being 'the guy," Ratliffe said. "We had to put all of that aside and be a team."
The culmination of that collective attitude paid off Sunday when BWSL knocked off Athletes First of Oklahoma City, 77-69 to win the Boo Williams Invitational tournament at the Boo Williams Sportsplex.
Ratliffe was named the tournament's MVP, scoring 21 points off the bench and grabbing seven rebounds as the team finished the tournament 6-0. Painter added 11 points and six rebounds, while Steven Pledger, of Atlantic Shores, added 14 points.
BWSL 17-and-under B team won the bronze division title, 45-43, over The Family, out of Detroit. In other title games, Memphis beat King James 82-78 for the 17-and-under Silver title, Team STAT topped Baltimore State 69-57 for the 16-and-under, and Team Florida beat BWSL 64-60 in the 15-and-under final.
"It's not who starts the game, it's all about who finishes," said BWSL coach Boo Williams, whose team won the title for the fourth consecutive year. "Look at Ricardo. It's all about how you finish. They looked good this weekend. They looked like a team."
It didn't start that way.
Ratliffe said that a week ago on the first day of practice, everyone seemed to be playing their own game.
"It just seemed like everyone was out to get themselves looked at instead of getting the team looked at," he said. "Boo is trying to get everyone looked at and get everyone into college. So we became a team over this tournament. We're getting there. We definitely got better every game."
Marshawn Powell led Menchville to a Peninsula District title in 2007 before heading off to the Miller School in Charlottesville.
He said that, with all 14 players on the BWSL roster likely Division I-bound, egos must be checked at the door.
"I'm not gonna be the man every game," Powell said. "You can't worry about that. Do something else. I don't have to score every point, but I can try and grab every rebound. You've got to turn into a role player and be happy with the win."
Willliams added: "You've got a lot of guys that won't get noticed, but still played great. Jontel Evans had a great tournament, but didn't make the all-tournament team."
That's fine by Evans, who helped lead Bethel to its best ever record (30-2) and a runner-up finish in the state Group AAA tournament.
"Boo told me that he's had great players come off the bench," said Evans, who backs up Marshall. "I don't care about starting and all of that. I'm just trying to do my part to help us win. This is the perfect start to our AAU season."
Still, Williams said that he'll try and downplay Sunday's title when they head to Dallas on April 25 for their next event.
"The problem in the past is that we've done well in this tournament, but then hit a stump in the second tournament," Williams said. "We appreciate the kids, but we want to stay focused. It's a long spring and summer."