Clendinen, Chatman and Florida team fall short in national finals, July 5, 1977

By Mel Barlow

of the Leesburg Commercial

July 5, 1977

Bill Clendinen's Florida AAU basketball team ran into difficulty Sunday Afternoon. The setting was the finals of the National Youth AAU Basketball Tournament at Boca Raton High. The opposition was Detroit, Michigan, the eventual 96-90 winners in this prestigious event.

After falling behind by 19 points midway of the first half. Clendinen's kids began a movie script comeback which placed them in front of the Michigan club at halftime, 52-48. "I was pleased with that turnaround. "Clendinen said. We were hurt early and late with turnovers. Detroit has some people in the backcourt that put tremendous pressure on our movement down the floor."

We gave away too many opportunities for them to score easy baskets. They didn't give us the chance to use our size and we stood around too much inside."

Detroit had its act together before tournament began. Florida was hurt by a lack of togetherness.

"They were the better team out there this afternoon," said Clendinen. "Now what I mean is they played together as a team. We did not"

"I honestly believe we had the best material in this tournament. But we didn't display that today."

Even though Detroit moved the ball with precision, the big factor was Florida's inability to get the ball down the floor without confusion.

"We were pressed so much that we took a lot of off balance shots," Clendinen said. "It hurts to lose a game like this the way we did."

Detroit had five straight steals in the first half, four by Jerome Akins and one by Edgar Merchant. Akins is  6-0 while Merchant is 5-10. Both played with intense aggressiveness during the title game.

The lead changed hands numerous times during the final 20 minutes of action. With the score tied at 80 with 6:11 left, Leesburg's Ed Chatman dropped in a a shot to put his team in front. But when Reggie Hannah missed a technical and personal foul shot, Detroit made a move that went them in front to stay with 2:02 remaining.

Jay Vincent, a 6-7 leaper, hit two charity shots, followed by Merchant's layup, which came with five seconds remaining Chatman scored the final points for Florida with 2:16 left in the contest.

"We just didn't do anything offensively in the last two minutes of play," Clendinen said. "Of course Detroit's pressure during that span of time kept us away from the basket."

"The best team won today. I didn't say the best talent. Detroit certainly deserved to win with their team effort today."

James George and Billy Williams paced Florida. Oliver Lee and Hannah fired in 13, while Chatman canned 12.

Vincent and Earvin Johnson hit 26 and 25 points respectively for the winners. Johnson was selected Offensive Player of the tournament while Florida's James George was named Defensive Player of the event.

George and Chatman blocked two shots each during the contest.

"The talent is here," Clendinen said. "If we have more time to work with the kids before next year's tournament, well I believe we can win it."

Florida's other entry, Gold Coast, lost to Seattle in the consolation game.

Resources

Mel Barlow

Leesburg Commercial

July 5, 1977

Article provided by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
www.leesburgyellowjacketsbasketball.com

  

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