2002 NSA NIT Plano, TX

Dan Smith/Backman/Menosse/Easton wins this NSA NIT by going undefeated in this rain shortened tournament. Lonnie and Jim did all they could to get this one in, but mother nature would not have any of it. Pool play was stopped before all rounds could be played and they moved into the double elimination and could only get the Winners Bracket completed. Dan Smith won the Winner’s bracket final and the rains came again and the tournament was history. Jason Kendrick was MVP as he was 20-23-4. Jeff Hall, Brett Helmer, Larry Carter and Shane Dubois were also big for the Smith boys. Budweiser/Absolute/Team Experts/Worth finished in second place after going 3-0 in the pool play and getting the #1 seed in the double elimination play. The Budweiser team got going by winning their first two games in the double elimination and then Dan Smith, who also won their first two games got it on what would be the Championship game. Dan Smith came out on top winning a 21-16 game to capture the Championship. Budweiser was led by the cough drop brothers, Jerrold and Jeff Smith along with veteran John Meyers who is getting better with age, as he always could hit it good. Greg Huchinson told me “he thinks his club will be a better team than last years, and is looking to win some tournaments this season. We will be competitive against the Long Haul’s, Dan Smith’s and Hague Resmondo’s all season long”. Finishing in third place was a very good A team, Mountain Top/Advance/TPS who played extremely well all weekend. This is another merger that will pay off as they will be a contender in the A World’s and could also win a Super NIT this season along with about four other great A teams in the country. Fourth place goes to Turn Two an up and coming A team, who played very well this weekend. There are some very good A & B players from Texas and Oklahoma who can play. Greg told me that teams like Team Dallas and Storm from Oklahoma are good A teams and will get better. Good job by all!!