The NEPA Elite boys program went 3-0 in bracket games Friday night when The Hoop Group’s Pittsburgh Jam Fest opened.
NEPA Elite has all four its boys teams entered in the event. The Coyle 17U, Joyce 16U and Miller 15U teams won in simultaneous games to begin bracket competition. The Cooper 16U boys begin their tournament early Saturday morning.
The NEPA Elite Miller 15U won in The Hoop Group’s modified Elam Ending overtime format that gives the win to the first team to score five points in the untimed extra session.
Marc Jackett, from Wyoming Seminary, hit the clinching free throw for the 48-47 victory over Early Risers HGSL in a 15 HGSL-1 Championship Bracket game.
Gerry Rose, from Riverside, made four 3-pointers while scoring 20 of his 26 points in the second half when NEPA Elite Joyce 16U defeated Team Rio-HGSL, 69-54, in a 16 HGSL-1 Championship Bracket game.
Ricky Vinansky added 12 points and Robby Lucas had 11.
Vinansky is from Mid Valley and Lucas is from Abington Heights.
The only Friday loss came by the NEPA Elite Coyle 17U team in a Hoop Group Showcase League game prior to the start of bracket competition.
The National Basketball Academy Ohio-HGSL defeated the Coyle team, 54-40, in the showcase game.
Danny Nemitz scored all 12 of his team-high points in the second half of the loss.
Gabe Tanner hit a 3-pointer in each half while adding eight points.
Both Nemitz and Tanner are from Mid Valley.
NEPA Elite Coyle 17U then defeated The National Basketball Academy Heat, 57-49, in 17 HGSL-3 Championship bracket.
The event continues through Saturday and into Sunday at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.