By: Colin Schofield
Day four of the Danny Rumph Classic kicked off with the second annual women’s pro showcase championship. Team Candy and Team Harper earned wins on Saturday and faced off Sunday afternoon for the right to be crowned champions.
Team Harper held control for the entire first half with strong defense and the play of Brittany Hynkro, but after halftime Team Candy began to chip away at a double-digit deficit.
Team Candy trailed by two with a chance to tie or take the lead with 15 seconds remaining.
But, the rim had other plans.
Brazil Carr’s found herself an opened look, but her shot clanked off the mark. Team Harper made two free throws to seal the 38-34 win and Jordan Wallace was named MVP.
Hynkro won the inaugural women’s tournament MVP last year and she made a strong case for another MVP trophy in the first quarter. Hynkro was held to just two points on no made field goals but immediately passed those numbers on her first shot.
Hynkro drilled a three to give Team Harper a quick three-point lead. She added a layup a minute later and buckets from multiple other Team Harper players gave them a 10-1 lead five minutes into the game.
Team Harper’s defense was suffocating during the first quarter, not allowing Team Candy to find any offensive success. After 10 minutes, Team Harper was in firm control with a 13-3 lead.
Team Harper’s defense continued to shine in the second quarter, not allowing a point for the first five minutes. Despite the stout defense, Team Harper could not bury Team Candy due to an equally ice-cold offense.
Team Candy held Team Harper without a point in that same time frame, as both offenses struggled with turnovers and contested shots. Hynkro finally thawed the offense for Team Harper with a pick-pocket steal and transition layup. A desperately needed halftime for both teams came with Team Harper in the driver’s seat with a 15-6 lead.
Coming out of the locker room both offenses finally found their groove.
Team Candy began to settle in during the third quarter behind Brazil H. Carr and Gmrice Davis getting to their spots for easy baskets. Team Harper did not relinquish the lead easily and Jordan Wallace established her presence down low with an and-one layup.
Entering the final 10 minutes of play, Team Candy had trimmed their deficit to just 28-21 and was within striking distance.
Team Candy went full throttle to start the fourth quarter. Dara Taylor found Brandi H. Carr down low for a reverse layup then Davis converted on two free throws to tie the game at 30 with a few minutes remaining.
The two teams went back and forth and as time wound down it was clear whoever had the ball last would win. Brazil Carr got the ball with less than 10 seconds left with an open look from three, but she missed. Team Harper came down with the rebound and made two free throws to put the championship on ice.