July 22, 2026
GAME 1: RED ROSE WAR READY EDGES HEARTFIRE ELITE 75-72 IN ELAM ENDING THRILLER
Red Rose War Ready survived a back-and-forth battle with Heartfire Elite, as Wendell Green’s game-winning layup in the Elam Ending lifted his team to a 75-72 victory to kick things off in the Non-Alumni bracket’s Group B.
The two teams traded momentum throughout the afternoon, with neither side able to create much separation. Red Rose War Ready took a 20-17 lead after the opening quarter behind the play of Jaron Cumberland and Ishmael Lane, but Heartfire answered in the second, edging in front 33-32 at halftime.
The tightly contested game continued after the break, with the lead changing hands several times. Red Rose War Ready regained a slim 54-53 advantage entering the fourth quarter before both teams exchanged baskets down the stretch.
With the Target Score set at 75, Heartfire’s Jordan Sears brought his team within a point at 73-72, but Green answered on the next possession, attacking the rim for the game-winning layup to send Red Rose War Ready to the next round.
Green led all scorers with 24 points while adding eight rebounds and five assists. Ishmael Lane contributed 19 points, Brandon Robinson finished with 14 points and seven rebounds, and Jaron Cumberland chipped in 10 points as Red Rose War Ready shot 44.1% from the field.
Heartfire was led by Tevin Mack’s 14 points, while Eric Griffin and Kerem Kanter each scored 11 and Eric Washington added 10. Sears nearly completed the comeback with a late scoring burst, but Heartfire shot just 40.3% from the field and came up one basket short of extending the game.
Both teams play their second group stage game later this week.
GAME 2: DAVIS STEEL HOLDS OFF GOTHAM CITY BOCKERS 79-76 IN ELAM ENDING FINISH
Davis Steel held off a furious fourth-quarter rally from Gotham City Bockers on Wednesday night, as Terrell Brown knocked down the game-winning jumper off a Gabe York assist to secure a 79-76 victory and advance in the Non-Alumni Bracket.
The two teams traded punches early, with Gotham City taking a 17-14 lead after the opening quarter behind Dakarai Tucker and Javon Freeman-Liberty. Davis Steel responded with a dominant second quarter, outscoring the Bockers 27-20 to carry a 41-37 advantage into halftime behind the shooting of Gabe York and a strong spark from Cameron McGriff off the bench.
Davis Steel continued to control the game after the break, using a 22-11 third quarter to build its largest lead of the night at 63-48 entering the fourth.
Gotham City refused to go away, mounting a late comeback behind Lance Thomas and Kobe Stewart to pull within one point at 77-76. On the ensuing possession, York found Brown for a pull-up jumper that pushed the lead back to three and proved to be the game’s final basket.
York paced Davis Steel with 21 points, seven rebounds and three assists while shooting 7-for-11 from the field. McGriff added 14 points off the bench, Terry Taylor finished with 13 points, and Pedro Bradshaw chipped in 10 points and eight rebounds as Davis Steel shot 45.2% from beyond the arc.
Tucker led all scorers with 23 points, nine rebounds and four assists for Gotham City Bockers. Freeman-Liberty added 14 points, Kyle Sturdivant scored 13 off the bench, and Stewart contributed 10 points and seven rebounds, but the Bockers’ comeback fell just short despite shooting 44.9% from the field three as a team.
Both teams will play their second game in Group A later this week.
