York Ballers teams place third, 10th at AAU nationals

The York Ballers AAU basketball program had two teams finish in the top 10 of their respective age-group tournaments this month, with a U-11 team finishing third in Hampton, Va., and a U-14 team finishing 10th in Orlando, Fla.

The Ballers' U-14 team competed July 12-18 at the AAU Nationals in Orlando, Fla., and went 2-1 in pool play by defeating NJ National BBall Academy and the Charlotte Dragons. The Ballers fell to the pool's top seed, East Coast Elite, 74-72.

The Ballers moved onto the championship bracket and beat the NC Breakers by 17, but fell to the NC Court Generals on a buzzer-beater in the Round of 32.

The Ballers entered the third consolation bracket, winning the bracket with four straight wins against the NY Gauchos, Tampa Warriors, the No. 1 seed in the this year's nationals, the Illinois Crush, and the Louisiana Jags to take 10th place among 148 teams.

The York Ballers U-11 team was the third seed at the Division 3 AAU Nationals in Hampton, Va., and went 3-0 in pool

play with wins over the MD Rockets, Virginia Hawks and Winston-Salem Mavs (the second-place finisher).

After winning their pool, the Ballers advanced into the championship bracket.

In the championship bracket the Ballers defeated Balto Finest, 34-33, NYC DNB Stars, 39-26, and took their first loss in the Final 4 to Team Takeover -- the eventual champs -- 51-43. The Ballers took third place with a 49-41 win against Balto Nike Elite.