We are now three quarters through the 2025 PSM Summit Summer League somehow.
For the still uninitiated, each week the teams will change and players will play with different teammates under different coaches. The games are played in two 20-minute halves with a 30-shot clock and an Elam Ending to close the games out. What is the Elam Ending? After the second half ends, seven points is added to the winning team’s score; that total becomes the target score that needs to be hit to achieve victory.
So what happened in week 3 as we turn down the final stretch of this year’s league?
TIME TO TALK ABOUT TB
Defense wins games. It is a pretty simple concept. And although Team Vance had no shortage of scoring output in their two games on Wednesday night (71 and 81 points), it was a defensive tempo – forcing turnovers and defending tough – that really led the way for this group. And at the forefront of that was Heritage senior Taurean Brown.
And that shouldn’t be a big shock if you’ve seen other weeks of the Summit Summer League. It shouldn’t be that big of a shock if you watched LVLUp this summer. It shouldn’t be a shock if you watched Heritage last year.
In Wednesday’s wins Brown showcased his quick hands, a sharp anticipation, and a constant energy that makes him a nightmare for ball-handlers. Bottom line, Brown didn’t take defensive possessions off, even rallying from behind on an opposing fast break in a game two win over Team Abram to prevent an easy score. Brown excelled at forcing turnovers on the perimeter and turning defense into instant offense for Team Vance in week 3.
You would think that coaches and teammates alike value the way he takes defensive pressure off others, stepping up to guard top opposing players but also being good in help defense that alleviates the pressure on his teammates. Brown was big to help swing or carry over momentum.
THE COMEBACK THAT FELL JUST SHORT
Team Abram led Team Prokop by as many as 28 in the 7 p.m. game on Court 1. The game ended up with a Team Abram win on a three pointer in the Elam Ending by Brody Bolen (Huntington North). That three pointer was the score difference in the game: 82-79.
Despite the outcome, give credit to Team Prokop for an exciting comeback that included a 20-0 run at one point. And give major credit too for Team Abram for righting the ship and not letting that comeback ruin their adrenaline fueled run to get the W in the end.
Team Abram started the game up 12-2, including the opening bucket of the game, a Jake Stoy (Prairie Heights) wrap around bucket. Team Abram followed that up with a long triple from Zen Szaferski (Bishop Luers) that was well defended even. Team Abram led 34-25 at the half as Team Prokop kept trying to battle back, but a steal, score and foul drawn by Szaferski five minutes into the second half pushed it to 50-29 in Team Abram’s favor. Titus Schultz (Huntington North) was tough for Team Abram all game long and his fourth three pointer of the game with just over nine minutes left staved off a Team Prokop comeback attempt at that point to push the lead back to 20 at 55-35.
With 7:39 to play, Team Abram had built their lead up to 23 points. A Uriah Williams (Wayne) putback bucket with 5:53 to play pushed the lead to 68-43. Team Prokop immediately got our in transition for a bucket from Charlie Lang (Concordia Lutheran) but Bolen answered right back for Team Abram with a three pointer on the other end to make it a 26 point game. A backcourt steal by Stoy led to another Bolen layin with 5:06 to play for the Elam Ending, giving Team Abram a 28 point advantage, 73-45.
Brayden Freiburger (Huntington North) would end the bleeding on the next Team Prokop possession before subs and Team Prokop’s next group making major waves. It started with a Carson Waltke (East Noble) basket to cut the lead to 24 points with 3:47 remaining, but as the running clock ticked away, it looked like all hope for Team Prokop would too. A Brendon Lee (Homestead) free throw for Team Abram with 2:51 left was the last Team Abram score for quite some time, but it also extended the lead back to 25 points.
Waltke free throws…Waltke rebound and putback…Stephen Akase (Wawasee) basket…Tayvon Stidams (Bishop Luers) three…Isaac Baker (Bellmont) steal and score under the basket…it all cut the lead to 16 at 75-59 at the end of regulation, but Team Prokop wasn’t quite done yet with the Target score set at 82 points.
Akase basket…Waltke rebound and score…Akase triple…Stidams rebound and basket…Akase single free throw…it piled up, aided by a lot of offensive rebounding for Team Prokop, possibly most importantly from Davis Cowan (Wawasee).
By the time Team Abram scored again, Team Prokop had gone on a 21-0 run over 10:26 with 2:51 coming off the clock in regulation and 7:35 played in real time during the untimed Elam Ending portion. After Team Abram got back on the board on a midrange pull up from Lee – who had scored the last Team Abram point – they led 77-68.
Team Prokop actually led 79-77 during the Elam Ending on a Waltke three pointer before Williams drained a baseline midrange jumper to knot it up. Team Abram had the chance to get close to closing the game out on their next trip, but missed two free throws. On the other end, Team Prokop got up a three pointer, but Stoy – who had just missed the free throws – closed out hard to block the shot attempt. The next Team Abram possession turned out to be the last one; Szaferski found Bolen in the corner, who then pump faked his defender by and buried a three for the win.
Was it the best game in Summit Summer League history? Maybe. But certainly a comeback and finish for the ages.
THE FRESHMEN
There are only a handful of freshmen in the Summit Summer League, but they have really shown that they are taking advantage of the unique opportunity this league gives. None of the freshmen have put up big numbers, whether it was a single game or cumulatively, but that doesn’t mean they have not made impressions as they are gaining this valuable experience.
Corbin Abbring (Homestead) stayed active on Team Deming constantly moving offensively and doing a nice job in learning where to fill in on the offensive end. That isn’t always easy to do when you don’t know your teammates and they are older and more experienced. But Abbring made himself available and helped spread the floor nicely.
Side note: Team Deming was rebranded Team Moore and Team Alexander in week 3 as Garrett assistant Ayden Moore and former Northrop standout Dalman Alexander filled in to coach the games. Moore and Alexander became the first two former Summit Summer League participants to then coach in the league. Alexander played in 2022’s inaugural league and Moore participated in 2023.
Woodlan’s Camden Brooks played a steady handed role in week 3 on Team Vance. He drew some tough defensive matchups in general but was also comfortable on switches, being able to defend on the perimeter and also stayed calm if switched onto one of the bigs, showcasing a little physicality of his own. With the Warriors losing so much last year to graduation, Brooks developing toughness and a defensive edge in this league could benefit him a lot come the school season.
Brendon Lee (Homestead) and Quentin Dickerhoff (Eastside) both played for Team Abram in week 3. Lee was significantly more active and effective than he had been in the previous two weeks. He took on a lead guard role at times and looked comfortable – and more importantly – patient with the ball in his hands during some pressure defensive moments in game 2. Dickerhoff continues to be a solid defender and his shot blocking ability keeps a lot of want to be scorers at bay.
CHECK OUT THE GAMES
Miss the games this week but want to see what Bounce’s excitement is about? The games are available to watch in replay on the Summit City Sports YouTube.
Check back next Tuesday as we preview week four, the final week of this year’s Summit Summer League.
These opinions represent those of Bounce and Outside the Huddle. No opinions expressed on Outside the Huddle represent those of any of our advertisers. Follow Bounce on Twitter at Bounce_OTH
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