Memphis Hoopers Take Center Court at USA Basketball’s Red Bull 3X Qualifier
16 Men’s and Women’s Teams Compete at the Grizzlies Center with Top Finishers Securing Berths to Red Bull USA Basketball 3X Regional
Tight scores and fast play was the theme of the day for both the women and men at USA Basketball’s Red Bull 3X qualifier in Memphis, Tennessee on Saturday.
A mix of recreational athletes, former college players, G League alumni and past international pros went head-to-head in Memphis – a basketball-rich city located in a football-loving region.
The women’s final pitted Who Let the Dogs Out against Memphis-locals, The A Squad. In the end, Who Let the Dogs Out held onto their narrow lead and secured the top spot, with a final score of 17-16. The winning women’s team included Caitlin Ingle and Sarah Rhine of Drake University, and Alexa Willard of Missouri State. The women first connected when they played against each other in the Missouri Valley Conference.
“I expected there to be good competition, and that’s exactly what we saw,” said Ingle on the fast-paced 3x3 format. “That’s the fun part – you don’t know who’s going to be there.”
On the men’s side, team Georgia Fire brought the heat against BALLISLIFE, taking the title with a final score of 21-20. There were multiple lead changes in the high-action game, with a tie score at the five-minute mark.
“The competition played us to our best,” said Georgia Fire player Bernard Parks. “We came to win, that was our mentality. We made a five-and-a-half-hour drive. We weren’t coming to lose.”
The Atlanta-based crew included former overseas pros Parks (Canada), Joshua Montgomery (Germany) and Tavin Cummings (Israel), as well as previous G League player, Devon Baulkman. The team, who has been playing together for nearly six years, plans to compete in the 3x3 regional in Charlotte.
The top two men’s and women’s teams at this qualifier now advance to the Red Bull USA Basketball 3X Regional in Charlotte, North Carolina on October 9. They also have a shot to play at the Red Bull USA Basketball 3X Nationals in 2022, which will be used to evaluate members for the USA Basketball men’s and women’s 3x3 national teams.
RED BULL 3X (MEMPHIS)
WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET
- Who Let the Dogs Out – Caitlin Ingle, Sarah Rhine, Alexa Willard
- The A Squad – Ashley Shields, Alyson McNear, Ami McNear, Ashley Daniels
MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET
- Georgia Fire – Bernard Parks, Joshua Montgomery, Devon Baulkman, Tavin Cummings
- BALLISLIFE – Bryton Hobbs, Deshawn Wright, Mike Chandler, De’Marco Owens
For more information, please visit www.redbull.com/3X.
