Spring Fling rundown

With AAU events taking place all over the country this weekend, the Iowa Barnstormers hosted their first Spring Fling in Iowa City on Saturday and Sunday. Several talented teams from all around the Midwest came to town to participate with three teams from three different states winning titles in the age groups participating.

A special note of thanks to Jamie Johnson from the Iowa Barnstormers program for putting on a first class event and for this rundown on the championship rounds in each age group.

Milwaukee Spartans 15U Champs

Milwaukee 66 - Iowa 63

Spartans outlasted the Iowa Barnstormers is a very competitive game. Barnstormers led by 6-2 SG Dondre Alexander (16 points), 6-6 C Ricky Williams (15 points) and 6-5 F Josh Weeber (10 points) took an early lead and kept a slim edge throughout most of the game. Then, star guard Jeremy Morgan fouled out and the Spartans took the led only to see the 'Stormers make a rally. However, the Spartans hit a huge 3 with 3.5 seconds remaining to edge the 'Stormers in an exciting game. The Spartans were led by Deandre Downey who had a game-high 18 points.

How they got there:

W-Iowa Mavs Blue

W-Old Skool United (MN)

W-North Scott (IA)

W-Iowa Barnstormers

15U MVP - Deandre Downey of Milwaukee Spartans

Indiana Elite One 16U Champs

Indiana 58 - Wisconsin 44

The squad from Indiana is very talented and when they got it going nobody could hang with them. They were led by 6-5 guard Kellen Dunham who had a game-high 17 points as they pulled away from a pesky Friends of Hoops team from Wisconsin. It was a close game during the first half, but Indiana began to assert themselves in the second half to pull away. Star guard Ron Patterson chipped in with 13 points in the final for Elite.

How they got there:

L-Iowa Barnstormers Black

W-Iowa Mavs Black

W-Wisconsin Blaze

W-Old Skool United (MN)

W-Iowa Barnstormers Gold

W-Friends of Hoop (WI)

16U MVP - Ron Patterson of Indiana Elite One

Iowa Barnstormers 17U Champs

Iowa 63 - Milwaukee 49

The Iowa Barnstormers rolled through the field to get into the title game where they met up with a very talented Milwaukee Spartans club. The Barntormers scored the first 8 points only to see the Steve Durham of the Spartans hit a few threes to make this a game. The teams both traded runs, but the Barnstormers held a slight 4-point lead at the half. The second half saw the 'Stormers get leads of 10-12 points only to see the Spartans rally to get within a couple baskets. Down the stretch the Barnstormers were just too much as they were able to hit some clutch shots and kock wn their free throws to ice the game.Durham and Dominique Williams each finished with 13 points for the Spartans. Baylor recruit Quevyn Winters was held to 7 points. The Iowa Barnstormers were led by their dynamic trio of 6-8 forward Jarrod Uthoff (game-high 16 points), 6-8 foward Seth Tuttle (15 points) and 6-5 guard Josh Oglesby (9 points and 6 assists).

How they got there:

W-Iowa Mavs Black

W-Old Skool (MN)

W-Friends of Hoops (WI)

W-Iowa Mavs Blue

W-Milwaukee Spartans

17U MVP - Jarrod Uthoff of Iowa Barnstormers

News and notes: Uthoff and Oglesby both make unofficial visits to Iowa to meet Coach McCaffery and come away impressed... former Iowa assistant coach Lavall Jordan took in most of the games on both days... former Central Florida coach Kirk Speraw was tracking the Iowa Barnstormers, Milwaukee Spartans and Indiana Elite throughout the day of Saturday... Indiana Coach Tom Crean offered Uthoff after the event concluded via telephone.