The Rear View Mirror: SUV's look back at the 2013 Blue Collar Basketball Showcase at GAC (video clips included

Columbia 67 Kell 46 (Full game webcast)

• Maurice Rivers, the Rice signee, was big in this one - more than his total of 14 point and eight rebounds might suggest. He did a great job of containing Grant Bryant in a way that made the East Carolina signee's 20 points and 14 rebounds just a strong individual performance instead of a win. Rivers used his length to frustrate Kell on defense.
• Bryce Brown finished with 13 points. Columbia's defense cranked up in the second half, but Brown's repertoire on offense was impressive as well. Check out Brown's nice move and 3-ball in this clip as well as this dunk to help wrap the game up.

Hillgrove 71 Cartersville 70 (OT) (Full game webcast)

• I enjoyed getting to watch Mike Tobin's Cartersville team in action. They wanted the test of playing a Hillgrove-caliber squad this early in the season, and despite the overtime loss, there were definitely some positive takeaways that I'm sure the Purple Hurricanes will put to good use. 
• Corey Tobin of Cartersville did a great job of playing with foul trouble for a good portion of the game. A few tough calls by the refs didn't affect his jumpshot, check out a prime example here.
• Kyle Castlin and BJ Brown were big for Hillgrove. Castlin provided his usual of mixture of buckets, hustle plays, and crunch time leadership while BJ Brown complemented him well on offense and was responsible for some key steals and jumpball opportunities that Hillgrove might not have won without.

Norcross 47 Greenforest Christian 43 (Full game webcast)

• This one was scrappy to say the least, but Norcross pulled out the close one. Both teams' intensity on the defensive end made it tough for either one to get going. William Gibbons of Norcross continued to do what he does from beyond the arc, as shown here on this play. There are plenty of reasons to look forward to the road ahead for Norcross - as they have a tested core in place already and will get a few additional resources back this week with the Norcross football team ending their season on Saturday with a championship.
• Greenforest Christian experienced another setback as they get ready to play in the prestigious City of Palms event .They were short a few pieces but still had plenty left in the arsenal, including Luis Hurtado, the freshman PG, as well as freshman wing Victor Enoh who got the tip dunk here.

North Cobb Christian 64 North Gwinnett 59 (Full game webcast)

• While Mercer commit, Stephon Jelks received Player of the Game honors in this one, North Cobb Christian got everyone involved early and jumped out before North Gwinnett could stop the onslaught early. Jelks is well known for his blue collar work inside for NCCS, but his success from three point land was no fluke as he is one of several of the Eagles who shoot the trey well. Here's a clip of him getting going from three early.

• North Gwinnett battled back and pulled to within three, but NCCS used timely shots and some solid bench play from Johnathan Twine to keep the distance necessary to preserve the win.

GAC 71 Luella 54 (Full game webcast)

• Doral Moore put on a nice display with his blocks, above the rim plays, and back-to-the-basket buckets for Luella, but it was Garrett Covington and GAC who stole the show. The sophomore guard seemed to make all the right plays on his way to a final stat line of 25 points, six rebounds, four steals, and two assists. Here are a few of Covington's clips:
• Rebound and putback
• Three pointer from the corner
• Rebound, push, and layup with the foul
• Postgame Player of the Game interview

• Isaiah Wilkins also finished with 21 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks in another strong effort for the future Univ. of Viwginia Cavalier.

• Luella's Temarcus Blanton, who's signed to play for Frank Martin and South Carolina, was strong in a losing effort. He finished with 18 points and seven blocks. Every time he steps on the floor his presence is felt, and he shows why he is one of the best overall players in Georgia, if not THE best. Check out his steal & dunk here as well as one of a cluster of mid range jumpers he knocked down.

Miller Grove 63 St. Francis 62 (Full game webcast)

• Despite the strong list of games at the 2013 BCB Showcase, this one took the cake on a day full of state champs, contenders, and teams on the rise. Talent-wise, the Miller Grove - St. Francis game was loaded, and St. Francis came out and set the tone early. Miller Grove stayed in the game despite St. Francis  playing at a high level and matching Miller Grove the entire game when it came to intensity, rebounding, and physicality inside. As strong as Kobi Simmons, Kaiser Gates, and Malik Beasley played  for St. Francis, the Knights were unable to put the nail in the coffin before Alterique Gilbert figuratively kicked the top off of it. Alterique Gilbert scored the most important five of his 19 total points in the final twenty seconds as his last second drive to the rack gave Miller Grove a 63-62 victory.

• Clips from the matchup
• Final :17 seconds that decided the game

• Miller Grove
• Alterique Gilbert with the hesitation move and bucket, off balance layup, and three pointer

• St. Francis
• Kobi Simmons coast to coast and jumper off the shot fake
• Josh Coleman block leads to Kaiser Gates hitting Malik Beasley on the cut
• Mckinley Brown dishes inside to James Banks for the dunk
• Malik Beasley floater over Omar Venable