Manek, Harrell spark Elite Oklahoma All-Star squad to title
Members of the Oklahoma 17-Under Elite Team Griffin basketball squad pose with the championship banner of the Greater American Shoot Out Elite Tournament in Duncanville. From left, they are Caleb Nero of Tulsa Memorial, Brady Manek of Harrah, Dalton Vincent of Hennessey, Carson Maier of Shawnee, Adokyle Ayaye of Putnam City North, Ethan Chargois of Tulsa Union, Omar Boone of Casady and Mason Harrell of Carl Albert.
Brady Manek of Harrah and Carl Albert’s Mason Harrell.
By John Martin
Staff Writer
DUNCANVILLE, TX — The inside-outside combo of Harrah senior Brady Manek and Carl Albert’s junior point guard Mason Harrell combined talents to lead the Team Blake Griffin Under-17 Elite Oklahoma All-Star team to a 74-57 triumph over the Colorado Springs (CO) Miners Sunday in the championship game of the Great American Shoot-Out at Bob Knight Arena.
The victory was the eighth in a row for the Oklahoma high school stars sponsored by former OU and current Los Angeles Clippers standout Blake Griffin.
Much as they did during the past season, the two EastOC stars rose to the occasion as both had a double-double for the championship game. Manek, who is already committed to the University of Oklahoma, led all scorers with 26 points and averaged 10 rebounds per game. He also threw in a pair of blocks in the title game.
Harrell, who already has a state runnerup and state champion under his belt in his first two years of high school, followed his usual pattern of doing what is necessary to win.
With fellow guards Caleb Nero of Tulsa Memorial and Adoklye Iyaya of Putnam City North, shackled by the Colorado team, Harrell responded with 18 points on a dazzling display of driving layups, pull up jumpers, six for six from the FT line and he tossed in a trey for good measure.
He had 10 assists, many of them to Manek going to the basket and averaged 10.4 assists for the eight games and completed his double-double by also averaging 10.4 points per game. Ethan Chargois of Tulsa Union finished with 10 points.
Manek scored 132 points in the 8 games for a 16.5 average and pulled down almost 11 rebounds per game.
FIVE STATES FALL
The Team Griffin squad defeated teams from Texas (4), Louisiana (2), Oklahoma and Colorado in the White Division.
- TEAM GRIFFIN 72, DALLAS SHOWTIME 58
Manek had 17 points while Iyaye added 14, Nero 12 and Casady star Omar Boone had 11. Harrell scored six points but had 12 assists and three steals.
- TEAM GRIFFIN 60, DALLAS RAMS ELITE 52
The Griffin boys led by 20 midway through the final half but Dallas rallied against the reserves. Nero led the scoring with 16 while Harrell chipped in 12 and Iyaye completed the three-guard attack with 12. Manek had six points with 9 rebounds and four blocked shots.
- TEAM GRIFFIN 82, SABO (TX) 65
And it wasn’t really that close as Griffin jumped out to a 46-33 edge at halftime behind a barrage of three pointers. Manek had five treys and 22 points, Iyaye had three and 19 points, Nero had two and 17 points, Harrell had a trey and four straight free throws for 11 points and Boone also had a three.
- TEAM GRIFFIN 81, UC HOOPS GOLD (LA) 57
All five starters were in double figures in a contest that over at halftime eat 48-24. Iyaye had 18, Manek 16 (12 rebounds and 7 blocks), Nero had 14 while Harrell and Boone each had 10. Harrell also added 11 assists.
- TEAM GRIFFIN 81, EXPRESS SPORTS (LA) 53
Griffin exploded for 42 points in the second half to secure the runaway. Manek had 13 of his 21 points after halftime, while Nero had 12 to finish with 23. Iyaye tossed in 7 free throws in his 15 points, while Harrell again recorded 12 assists to go with nine points.
- TEAM GRIFFIN 66, OKC STORM 60
The closest game of the tournament came against the Oklahoma team featuring Norman North standout Curtis Hayward who had 21, But Nero had 20, Iyaye 15 and Harrell 13 with 10 assists. Manek had 10 rebounds, three assists and two blocks to go with 8 points.
- TEAM GRIFFIN 61, DALLAS CARTER ELITE 50
In the championship semifinals, Griffin extended a five-point halftime edge with another torrid shooting demonstration in the second half. Manek finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds with three blocks, Nero had 10 of his 17 in the second half and Iyaye had 11 of his15 after intermission. Harrell again led the way with 11 assists.
In addition to Manek and Harrell, other team members include Caleb Nero of Tulsa Memorial, Dalton Vincent of Hennessey, Carson Maeir of Shawnee, Adokyle Iyaye who is transferring from Piedmont to Putnam North, Ethan Chargois of Tulsa Union and Omar Boone of Casady.
The team will wrap up their 2016 season playing in the Nike Elite Invitational in Kansas City this weekend.
