N2 Hoops Invitational brought excitement, fans to Madison
John Petty scored 25 in a 72-55 win over Bob Jones (Record Photo/Ernest Reese)
MADISON- The Hometown Lenders N2 Hoops Invitational wrapped up Wednesday night with a double overtime victory for Austin over Blackman (Tn.). Earlier in the day Austin needed overtime to down Bob Jones and Blackman got a convincing win over Mae Jemison.
Officials estimate the three day event drew over 10,000 fans.
“First class event put on by Bob Jones,” said local sports talk show host Drew DeArmond who worked the event. “The N2Hoops Invitational is on the road to becoming a tradition in high school basketball, congratulations to Coach Tiggs and the entire Bob Jones program.”
Tiggs said that the tournament could not have happened without sponsor Hometown Lenders/First Family Mortgage who provided resources to “bring in premier teams, the best local teams and bring them to the hotbed of basketball here in North Alabama. Our fans have seen tremendous basketball teams and coaches. Elite players in the country were here. Our crowds have been phenomenal.”
The gate and concessions will provide the largest one time infusion of resources to both boys and girls basketball programs at Bob Jones. Tiggs, the tournament director, is already studying ways to improve on next year’s event.
“We have a commitment from our sponsors for three years so when the invitations go out in the spring we will look for teams that have premier players. Coaches tell me this is one of the top tournaments in the country. Mae Jemison and John Petty were a tremendous draw. I’m excited about the future of the tournament.”
Tiggs said there is a board of volunteers who help plan and execute the event.
Bob Jones went 2-2 in the tournament with impressive wins over Creekwood and Hazel Green before falling to Austin Wednesday morning then Mae Jemison in the consolation game.
“I was very pleased with our team to play as well as they did.” Tiggs said. “We are a little undersized but we make up for that with good intensity and hard work. We start area play in a week and I feel good about where we are. I have four pages of legal pad of things we need to work on to get better. I have a tired team so we will take some time off.”
Among Bob Jones players, Demontrez Brown made the All-Tournament team. Chase Fiddler also had a big game against Hazel Green hitting his career high in points.
Tiggs presented the tournament MVP to 6-foot-10 Trey Elston of Austin. Also making the All-Tournament team were John Petty, Garrison Brooks and Alex Wang of Austin and Donovan Sims and Trent Gibson of Blackman (Tn.).
