2022 Sunshine State Showdown: 16U Champions

<strong>2022 Sunshine State Showdown: 16U Champions</strong> By Michael Wholey 4/26/22 11:00 AM EST <em>The 2022 Sunshine State Showdown served as a kickoff event to start the spring/summer travel season hosting 120 teams, 183 games, over 900 players, 2,000 fans and crowned 14 champions across eight divisions from 10U all the way to 17U.  We look at the 16U Champions.  </em> <strong>10U Champion: </strong>Miami Suns 10U <strong>11U Champion: </strong>Outsiders 4/5^th <strong>12U Champion: </strong>CFE 12U <strong>13U Champion: </strong>ECU Navy 2027 <strong>14U Faith Bracket: </strong>Lady Knox Ballers 2026 <strong>14U Hope Bracket: </strong>Jupiter Jaguars 14U <strong>15U Courage Bracket: </strong>Miami Suns Team Kiki 15U EYBL <strong>15U Dream Bracket: </strong>Tampa Thunder 2025 <strong>16U Peace Bracket: </strong>Essence Black 16U <strong>16U Inspire Bracket: </strong>Team Knight 2024 3SSB <strong>16U Imagine Bracket: </strong>North Tartan 16U EYBL <strong>17U Hope Bracket: </strong>East Coast United Navy 2023 <strong>17U Dream Bracket: </strong>East Coast United Team Richardson 2023 <strong>17U Courage Bracket: </strong>Essence 17U Purple EYBL <strong>17U Faith Bracket: </strong>Essence Black 17U <strong> </strong> <strong>16U Peace Bracket                 </strong> <strong>Essence Black 16U (56) – Orlando Basketball Club 10^th (8)</strong> Essence Black was dominant in the 16U Peace Bracket, winning their games by 50, 22, and 48 points! For most of the weekend, it was the <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="221841" first="Shania" last="Swan"]</strong> show, dropping double digits in all 3 games and really lighting it up from 3.  She had multiple 3s in all 3 games and showcased why she is considered one of the state’s top 3-point shooters! &nbsp; <strong><img class="alignleft wp-image-208630 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/10/1-Ziul-Gonzalez-2-e1650428477464-274x300.jpg" alt="" width="274" height="300" />16U Inspire Bracket               </strong> <strong>Team Knight 2024 3SSB (52) – Essence Silver 16U EYBL (47) </strong> Team 2024 3SSB was dominant all weekend winning both their Saturday games in blowout fashion defeating J Sizzle 2024 49-24 and LB Elite 10 Blue 50-16 before facing off against Essence Silver 16U EYBL defeating them 52-47 in the 16U Inspire Bracket Championship game.  <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="221840" first="Dezmariah" last="Soto"]</strong> was extremely consistent all weekend, reaching double digits in all 3 games and shooting a high percentage from 3.  She averaged 13 points per game and made multiple 3-pointers in multiple games, showcasing a well-rounded offensive floor game and the ability to be a consistent scorer at a high level.  It was great to see <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="217668" first="Gianna" last="Corbitt"]</strong> on the court healthy as she had multiple double-digit games and showed her versatility and scoring ability that we were accustomed to see before she was battling injuries. And teammate <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="244205" first="Ziul" last="Gonzalez"]</strong> let it fly from 3, displaying her deep range and quick release! <strong> </strong><strong> </strong> <strong><img class="wp-image-417207 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/DSC04350-scaled-e1650428764339-157x300.jpeg" alt="" width="209" height="399" />16U Imagine Bracket              </strong> <strong>North Tartan 16U EYBL (50) – Central Florida Elite 16U 3SSB (45) </strong> North Tartan 16U EYBL came into Florida from Minnesota and left a perfect 5-0! North Tartan relied heavily on the three ball all weekend, spreading the floor, sharing the ball, and knocking down open shots.  They defeated a tough East Coast United Family 2024 squad 45-42 in their opening game on Friday night and then followed that up with a 69-37 blowout vs ECEDAO later Friday night.  On Saturday they followed up with two more wins, defeating Tre Mann Elite 16U 50-12 and then another close win in a back-and-forth battle Saturday night 65-63 over the Miami Suns Team Larkins 16U EYBL squad.  On Sunday, they defeated Central Florida Elite 16U 50-45 to claim the Imagine 16U Bracket Championship! Throughout the weekend, opponents got a steady dose of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="178263" first="Laura" last="Hauge"]</strong>, who was quite impressive from 3 all weekend, knocking down fifteen 3-pointers over 3 days.  <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="374227" first="Rainey" last="Welson"]</strong> was quite impressive herself, shooting a high percentage from 3 as well, knocking down sox 3-pointers in Friday’s blowout win over ECEDAO and leading her team in scoring with 14 points in the championship game vs Central Florida Elite 16U 3SSB.  Spreading out the scoring throughout the weekend, it was <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="252387" first="Aaliyah" last="Crump"]</strong> who finished with an event high 28 points on Saturday vs Miami Suns Team Larkins 16U EYBL in one of the top games of the weekend, helping North Tartan to the 65-63 win that ultimately led them to the championship game! <strong> </strong> <strong>Michael Wholey</strong> is the lead scout for Florida Prep Girls Hoop Florida and a former division one Assistant Coach at American University, University of Memphis, and Georgia Tech.  Wholey and the rest of the Prep Girls Hoop staff, seek to cover the entire state of player, keeping subscribers up to date with player evaluations, recruiting info, and statewide news.  Our audience often supplies us with some of our best information.  If you have any information on players, teams, or statewide news in the state of Florida, emailing Michael Wholey at <a href="mailto:WholeyPrepHoops@gmail.com">WholeyPrepHoops@gmail.com</a> or DM him through Twitter or Instagram @WholeyPrepHoops.