By Staff
The Southwest Michigan Storm girls American Youth Basketball Tour summer basketball club recently won its second straight national title in Fort Wayne, Ind.
The Storm, a Seventh Grade Highly Skilled Division team, beat the Versailles Lady Tigers of Versailles, Ohio, 44-41 in overtime on Wednesday, July 23, to win the national title.
The Storm won the Sixth Grade Highly Skilled Division national title last year and went 10-0 to repeat in this year's tournament.
The Lady Tigers led by 14 points, only to have the Storm come back and take the lead with 1:30 left in regulation. The Storm hit a shot at the buzzer to force overtime and outscored the Lady Tigers in the extra period.
Kelly Watson scored a team-high 18 points for the Storm in the championship game and KimmyVanSchoick added 16.
The Storm is coached by Andy Criscenti and Jon VanSchoick.
Team members include Kimmy VanSchoick of Marcellus, Amy Shultz of Bridgman, Maggie Hausmann of Three Oaks, Sarah Svaboda of Bridgman, Amanda Ferrise of New Buffalo, Rebecca Criscenti of Watervliet, Hannah Watson of Ionia, Madison Branch of Bridgman, Tara Heyboer of Saranac, Shakima Crowder of St. Joseph, Carla Cochran of Eau Claire and Kelly Watson of Ionia.
The team's web site is www.eteamz.com/swmstormaybt.