Press Room
HI-FIVE/FULL PACKAGE 12-U ELITE TEAM CAPTURES STATE AAU CHAMPIONSHIP
The Hi-Five/Full Package 12-U Elite boys’ basketball team captured the Illinois State AAU championship by defeating the Arlington Heights Cardinals on a buzzer beater in overtime. Dylan Abel (Barrington) scored on a backdoor lay-up to give Hi-Five/Full Package the win, 51-50.
Hi-Five/Full Package rolled through pool play on Saturday, before defeating the Illinois Speed in the quarterfinals, Team PDAAK (three-time defending state champions) in the semi-finals and the Arlington Heights Cardinals in Sunday's single-elimination playoffs.
The inside-outside combination of Evan Boudreaux (Lake Forest) and Connor Cashaw (Lincolnshire) and the all around play of Abel (Barrington) proved to be the difference as Hi-Five/Full Package captured the state title in its first tournament as a team.
Hi-Five/Full Package Coach Billy Welcome said, "It was incredible to see how quickly this team jelled and came together. We have only been together for a few weeks, but the kids responded and played for one another on the offensive and defensive end."
Welcome continued, "This group could be really special and we are all looking forward to building on the state championship for the rest of the spring and gearing up for AAU Nationals in Virginia this July."
Welcome and assistant coach Brad Johnstin also noted the defensive pressure of Cameron Green (Buffalo Grove) and the strong inside play of Griffin Boehm (Wilmette) and Jordan Atkins (Buffalo Grove) were also keys to the team’s success.
Johnstin added, "Peter de Hueck, Mike Johnson, Adam Wolf and William Bourbon gave us great minutes off the bench on Saturday and Sunday. They were able to maintain the intensity on the defensive end, and that really helped us keep our momentum and capture the championship. It truly was a total team effort."
| Full Package’s Complete Roster | |
Connor Cashaw- Lincolnshire |
Cameron Green- Buffalo Grove |