R.I. Hawks 16U Black Wins the GymRat Challenge May 28-29th in Albany, N.Y. The U16 Black Hawks went 7-0 on weekend including 53-50 Victory in championship over Sports University / Team Izod (Jersey City), currently ranked US #4 in National AAU Power Ratings.

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R.I. Hawks 16 Black – 2011 GymRat Challenge Champions

7-0 on weekend. 5-0 on Sunday, including 4 wins in final 6 hours during playoff rounds.
2 wins at Skidmore College in Saratoga, then 30+ mile ride south to University of Albany for semis and finals.

Charles Correa (St. Raphael, Pawtucket) – 14.7 PPG, including 18.5 PPG in four playoff games on Sunday
Harrison Taggart (St. Paul’s School) – 12.9 PPG
Ben Engvall (Barrington H.S.) – 11.4 PPG

26-3 overall this spring

Pool Play – Prelims
W 77-54 vs Long Island Lightning
Henry Bolton (Portsmouth H.S.) – 17 points

W 72-35 vs Kingston (NY) Komets
Harrison Taggart – 19 points, Tom Rivard (Worcester Academy) – 10 points
Charles Correa – tremendous defense on Kingston PG Justin Robinson, an All-Tournament performer here last year.

W 69-44 vs Jersey Extreme
Ben Engvall – 23 points

Bracket Play
W 59-52 vs Central Penn Ballers
Charles Correa – 29 points, 4 treys, Ben Engvall – 13 points
Harrison Taggart – 6’5″ wing took over ballhandling duties for much of game vs. pressure defense

W 63-39 vs Central Jersey Rebels
Charles Correa – 19 points. 17 points, 3 treys in 1st half jumping out to 40-19 halftime lead. Sat out much of 2nd half.

Semifinals
W 55-45 vs New Jersey Cyclones, #1 seed based on pool play results
Charles Correa – 15 points, Harrison Taggart – 11, Henry Bolton – 10

Championship
W 53-50 vs Sports University/Team Izod (Jersey City, NJ)
Sports University – runner-up in last year’s 15u National Championships, currently ranked US #4 in AAU National 16u Power Ratings
4 players from St. Anthony, Jersey City

Harrison Taggart – 16 points, Charles Correa – 11 points

Trailed 39-31 midway through 2nd half, 8-0 run on 3′s by Correa and Bolton, and layup by Tom Rivard to tie game at 39-39.
Trailing 48-47 with less than 2 minutes left, 3-pointer by Henry Bolton gave RI the lead for good at 50-48.
2 defensive stops in last 30 seconds and Taggart – 2 FT’s with 1 second left to clinch victory.