Stoneridge P&R, behind the scoring punch of tourney MVP 6’8” junior Troy Gillenwater (Stoneridge School/Simi Valley CA) defeated a young Belmont Shore squad 92-88 to capture the 14^th annual Fullcourt Press Fall Hoops Classic’s Gold Division title this past weekend in Lynwood CA.  Past MVPs of this event include Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics), Rashard Lewis (Seattle Supersonics) and Tyson Chandler (New Orlean Hornets).

In the title game, Stoneridge was propelled by Gillenwater’s 23 points (including two huge “and 1s” during the last 2 minutes of the contest) while 6’11” senior Ibrahima Thomas displayed exceptional long range shooting en route to 25 points (including 5 “threes”) and Minnesota native 6’0” junior point guard Angelo Johnson (20 points) was virtually un-guardable at times.  Belmont Shore had a balanced attack in the finale with 6’5” senior James Harden (Artesia/Lakewood CA/verbal to Arizona State) pouring in a game high 26 points, 6’1” freshman Gary Franklin (Mater Dei/Santa Ana CA) knocking in a game high 6 “threes” (22 points overall), ultra athletic 6’5” junior Demar DeRozan (Compton/Compton CA) chipping in with 21 points and 6’7” junior Renaldo Woolridge (Harvard-Westlake/North Hollywood CA) contributing 19 points (including 3 “threes”).  Additionally 6’1” soph point guard Darius Morris (Windward/Los Angeles CA) distributed a game high 9 assists for Belmont Shore.

Stoneridge’s road to the title also included a hotly contested 79-78 OT semi-final win over Branch West –Team Reebok which ranks among the most memorable games in the tournament’s 950-plus game history.  After trailing most of the game thanks to the strong post play of Kansas-bound 6’11” senior Cole Aldrich (Jefferson/Bloomington MN) who led BWBA-Reebok with 19 points, Stoneridge rallied to force overtime before taking a slim lead and surviving a last second tip-in attempt by Aldrich of teammate Jason Henry’s shot that would have won the game for Coach Bob Gottlieb’s crew. Belmont Shore survived 26 points by 6’0” senior Lashard Anderson (Serra/San Diego CA) to edge the San Diego All-Stars 76-73 in the other semi-final contest.

West Coast Academy Blue - behind 33 Points (including 7 “threes) from 6’4” junior Jamal Brown (Warren/Downey CA) defeated Impact Basketball 75-64 to win the Silver division championship. 

National and regional recruiting scouts that attended included Frank Burlison (Long Beach Press-Telegram & Scouthoops.com), Dinos Trigonis (Fullcourt Press & Hoop Scoop), Gerry Freitas (Freitas Hoop Review), Etop Udo-Ema (Fullcourt Press & Hoop Masters), Joel Francisco (SoCal’s Finest Recruiting Service & ESPN) and Greg Hicks (Scouthoops.com).

2006 Fullcourt Press Fall Hoops Classic All-Tourney Team

All-Tourney – First Team

Troy Gillenwater                                    6’8”     Jr. Stoneridge School (Simi Valley CA) (MVP)

Cole Aldrich                                           6’10”     Sr.        Jefferson (Bloomington MN)

Lashard Anderson                                  6’0”       Sr.        Serra (San Diego CA)

Demar DeRozan                                    6’5”       Jr.         Compton (Compton CA)

Mamadou Diarra                                    6’10”     Sr.        Stoneridge School (Simi Valley CA)

James Harden                                       6’5”       Sr.        Artesia (Lakewood CA)

Jason Henry                                          6’7”       Sr.        Light of the World (Atlanta GA)

Angelo Johnson                                     6’0”       Jr.         Stoneridge School (Simi Valley CA)

Ibrahima Thomas                                   6’11”     Sr.        Stoneridge School (Simi Valley CA)

Renaldo Woolridge                                 6’7        Jr.  Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood CA)

Honorable Mention – All-Tourney

Charles Boozer                                      6’4”       Sr.        Stoneridge School (Simi Valley CA)

Jamal Brown                                         6’5”       Jr.         Warren (Downey CA)

Austin Daye                                          6’10”     Sr.        Woodbridge (Agoura Hills CA)

Gary Franklin                                         6’1”       Fr.        Mater Dei (Santa Ana CA)

Edgar Garibay                                       6’9”       Jr.         Compton (Compton CA)

James Hancock                                     6’6”       Sr.        Mission Bay (San Diego CA)

Kelly Kaigler                                          6’2”       Jr.         Oak Grove (San Jose CA)

Tyler Lamb                                            6’5”       Fr.        Colony (Ontario CA)

Bryan Louff                                            5’11”     Sr.        Santa Monica (Santa Monica CA)

Kareem Maddox                                    6’6”       Sr.        Oak Park (Oak Park CA)

Tyree McCrary                                       6’7”       Jr.         Oak Grove (San Jose CA)

Aaron Moore                                          6’7”       So.       Dominguez (Compton CA)

Darius Morris                                         6’1”       So.       Windward (Los Angeles)

La’von Myers                                         6’0”       Sr.        Jordan (Los Angeles CA)

James Rahon                                        6’4”       Jr.         Torrey Pines (San Diego CA)

James Staniland                                    6’6”       Jr.         Ventura (Ventura CA)

Bubacar Sylla                                        7’0”       Sr.        Stoneridge School (Simi Valley CA)

Clay Thompson                                      6’5”    So.  Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita CA)

Mychal Thompson Jr.                             6’6”       Sr.        Stoneridge School (Simi Valley CA)

Jamal Trice                                            6’3”       Jr.         Mater Dei (Santa Ana CA)

Quinton Watkins                                    6’4”       Sr.        Dominguez (Compton CA)
Julius von Hanzik                                   6'4"       Jr.         Beverly Hills (Beverly Hills CA)