By GREG KEIM
Recent Northridge High School graduate Austin Doberenz shouted “I got a championship” after winning the 19-30 age group championship in the 3-on-3 basketball tournament Thursday night at the Elkhart County 4-H Fair.
Team Doberenz edged Team Spencer, 18-16, in the finale on a reverse layup by Goshen High School grad Cameron Snyder.
“The layup felt great” Snyder said. “They (Spencer) were a good team and were making a comeback on us.
“Austin is the one who got the team together. We probably would not be here if not for him.”
Also playing on the team were Ethan Hussey (Goshen) and Jordan Shetler (Goshen).
“Cameron and I go to Indiana University together,” Doberenz said. “Ethan and Jordan are friends who are really good basketball players.”
Snyder added, “The 19-30 age group is the best. The games are competitive. We had several close games.”
Members of Team were Spencer Joseph Spencer (Ligonier), Scott Schermerhorn (Ligonier), Joe Leach (Syracuse) and JP Pizana (Ligonier).
Team DeShone downed Team Ogle, 18-5, in the female 16-and-over division. Playing for the winners were Sarah DeShone (Elkhart), Courtney Herschberger (Goshen), Diamond Setterberg (Goshen) and Brooke Schwartz (Goshen).
“We are all really good friends, Herschberger said. “This tournament is mostly about fun. It is not super serious, yet it is still competitive.”
DeShone goes to Jimtown while the other three players are Fairfield Falcons.
“We are close friends,” DeShone said. “They asked me to play last year with them, but I couldnÿt because of AAU ball. This is a lot of fun. It’s like playing ‘street ball’.”
Members of Team Ogle were Lindsay Ogle (Goshen), Trenee Brownlee (Elkhart) and Brianna Bleiler (Elkhart).
Team Snyder trimmed Team Linville, 13-9, in the age 10-12 male division.
Playing for the winners were Trenton Snyder (Goshen), Jared Long (Elkhart) and Dylan Troyer (Elkhart). On Team Linville were (Braxton Linville (Milford), Chad Sellers (Wakarusa), Trent Sellers (Wakarusa) and Dominic Miranda (Goshen).
In the female age 10-12, Team Hales edged Team Ellis-Krebs 13-10.
Making up the winning team were Grace Hales (Cromwell), KJ Cox (Cromwell), Paige Shearer (Ligonier) and Bercca Schermerhorn (Ligonier). Members of Team Ellis-Krebs were Ashton Ellis-Krebs, Aylissa Troyer, Alyssa Hershberger and Erin Wiktorowksi; all of Goshen.
Team Miller was the winner in male age 13-15, defeating Team Roeder 15-8.
Comprising the winning team were Damon Miller (Shipshewana), Joe Miller (Goshen), Kyle Miller (Shipshewana) and Zach Eash (Shipshewana). Playing for Team Roeder were Paul Roeder (Goshen), James Becker (Goshen) and Michael McKibben (Millersburg).
In female age 13-15, Team Miller topped Team Burish, 12-10, in the finale.
On the winning team were Taylor Miller (Middlebury), Molly Bontrager (Goshen), Makayla Zook (Bristol) and McKenzie Eash (Middlebury). Three girls from Warsaw (Lauren Burush, Andi Frazzette) made up Team Burish.
In the male 16-18, Team Yoder nipped Team Bontragrer 18-16.
Playing for the winning team were Judson Yoder (Goshen), Dustin Yoder (Millersburg) and John Miller (Goshen). Team Bontrager included Tony Bontrager (Midlebury), Ronald Dandridge (Elkhart), Mark Sutter (Elkhart) and Larry King (South Bend).
Akeem Peters won the slam-dunk contest and Jamar Johnson Jr. the 3-point shooting contest.
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