Grand Finale tourney up next

Spencer Patterson

Monday, July 27, 1998 | 10:48 a.m.

Less than a week after the conclusion of the 224-team Big Time Tournament, all-star prep basketball rolls back into Las Vegas today in the form of the sixth annual Grand Finale Tournament.

The 159-squad event, run by the American Roundball Corporation (ARC) and Slam-n-Jam, will have quite a different look from the recently completed adidas-sponsored tourney.

For the Grand Finale, teams will be split according to age and level of play, from the high school all-star "open" division to the 10-under bracket. The five-day affair also will feature a 13-under girls division.

"We have it very balanced," organizer Rich Goldberg of ARC said. "Teams that aren't ready for the all-star division have other options."

Two local squads will participate in the all-star division: the Las Vegas Heat and Las Vegas Select. Both Southern Nevada Coaches Association-sponsored clubs fared well in the Big Time Tournament.

Led by area stars like Cimarron-Memorial point guard Marcus Banks and Eldorado center James Bayless, the Heat won all three of its pool contests before falling in main bracket competition.

The Select got strong contributions from a backcourt of Eddie Shelby (Cheyenne), Matt Cox (Chaparral and Shon Atkinson (Rancho) to win a pair of games in the "A" division tournament.

The Las Vegas Panthers -- a local squad comprised of Palo Verde players -- will participate in a 16-team division for intact high school clubs.

After his group's experience at the Big Time, coach Phil Clarke is looking forward to this week's action.

"It was real positive, and they took a lot out of it," said Clarke, whose school begins varsity play this year. "The main thing is just to get them into games and playing against good competition."

Bonanza High School will field a 15-under squad, and several area squads have signed up to compete in the younger divisions.

Goldberg said he expects more than 300 college coaches to watch the tournament, which will take place at Las Vegas, Cimarron, Valley, Mojave, Cheyenne, Palo Verde and Becker Middle School. The all-star clubs will play at Cheyenne and Mojave all week, with the championship schedule for 1:30 p.m. Friday at Mojave.

The defending champion Arizona Stars will not be back to defend their title. But several top-notch all-star teams will be in attendance, including the New York Gauchos, Aim High (N.Y.) and the SYF Players (Ind.).