Just moments after Sun Youth grabbed a 37-35 lead on a basket by Etienne Labrecque, Tennessee bound Marques Johnson heaved a desperation 50+ foot shot toward the basket. Much to everyone's amazement, the shot swished through the hoop, giving Blessed IJN a 38-37 lead at the break.
"It should have given us the momentum," said Blessed IJN Head Coach Eric Vaughn. "But I told our guys that the beginning of the second half would determine who would win the game, and it was over in the first five minutes."
That's because Sun Youth opened the second half with a 12-0 surge and never looked back, cruising to an 84-56 victory and claiming the title of the Triple S Harley Davidson Jam Fest.
Tournament MVP Etienne Labrecque continued his clutch play over the game's final 16 minutes, connecting for 22 of his game high 33 points in the second half. The 6-5 small forward/swingman from Montmorency is a full qualifier (1060 SAT) seeking to enroll at an American college or university this fall.
Labrecque's three-point play with 13:19 remaining capped the 12-0 run, yielding a 49-38 Sun Youth advantage.
After Zach Payton's three-pointer made it 56-45, Labrecque scored eight points in a 12-5 burst that made it 68-50 with 6:30 remaining. From that point on, it was all downhill, thanks to Labrecque's handiwork.
"I didn't do something special," Labrecque reflected. "I just played my game and hit the shots."
Power forward/center Ali Kanaan collected 14 points and combo guard Hamza Ruhezamihigo chipped in 13 for the winners.
Following a strong first half, Blessed IJN's Marques Johnson scored just four-second half points and finished with 15. Payton, the hero of the semifinal victory, hit for 12 points in the lopsided loss.