Hurricane forces sweep city tourney

Fast starts, slow second halves and Hendricks Elementary the victors. Similar story-lines occurred in two different games last night as the Hurricanes, Green girls and Gold boys, took home the annual city elementary basketball championships, hosted at Shelbyville Middle School. The Hendricks Green girls defeated the St. Joe Lions, 25-13, behind Madelyn Poe’s 21 points. Ava Thomas scored four. “We had great teamwork,” Hendricks coach Alecia Adkins said, “but we also have a couple of very good, aggressive players.” The score stretched as the game wore on, but the Lions continued to push, with Joslyn Jersan scoring a bucket in the waning seconds. Ella Johnson scored six and Lilly Johnson added four. A respectable and noisy crowd included long-time Lions loyalists such as Ryan and Jennie Claxton and Robin and Corazon Gahimer. Even John DePrez, IV was in the crowd, watching his law partner Curt Johnson coach St. Joe. “This fifth grade class of girls has a tremendous base of athletes,” Johnson said after the game. “They will bring pride to this community.” Two of those stellar athletes are his twin girls, Lilly and Ella Johnson. “I keep telling them about the Barnard twins,” Johnson said, laughing. The fifth grade class also includes a key Hendricks player. “Madelyn Poe,” Johnson said, standing on the floor following the game. “She’s the real deal.” The boys game also featured strong athleticism, with Hendricks overcoming a strong defensive half from the Loper Blue Bulldogs, winning 30 – 13. Coach Lance Collins kept it in perspective following the game. “We want them to get better at this age,” Collins said. Despite having a couple of top players, he focused on the overall goal. “I worked on getting all of my kids playing time." That philosophy worked for the boys and girls teams, leading the Hendricks Hurricanes to successful sweeps of both city tournament trophies.