In his second ever TBT game, Joe Johnson put on a show in leading the 2-seeded Overseas Elite into the semi-finals of the million dollar tournament.
Johnson, who scored 13 on Thursday in his TBT debut, went for a blistering 35 points in Saturday’s quarter-final matchup, mixing in pull-ups, post-ups, and three pointers on his way to an outstanding performance.
In the first five minutes, the 18-year NBA veteran had 7 points, scoring on an off the dribble three, a floater, and a mid-range jumper. He was the catalyst for Overseas Elite’s 27-17 lead at the end of the first quarter.
With 5:20 left in the first half, he hit his next basket, a corner three that put Elite up 38-27. He would next score on a face-up jumper, and then a floater for his 14th point. To end the half, he hit a left wing step back three to give him 17 points at the break and Elite a 47-41 lead.
It didn’t take long for him to make his presence felt in the second half, as he hit on a step back 42 seconds in, giving him 19 and putting Elite up 49-43.
Elite would end the 3rd on a 9-0 run, with Johnson scoring 8 points in the final 3:14 of the quarter to give him 29 for the game and pushing his team to a 67-55 lead after three quarters.
For point 31, a floater made it 75-60 Elite, as they began to pull away from a game but overmatched Herd team. His next bucket came on a step back to make it 79-62, giving him 33 points and a TBT high for this year. With 4:49 left, he drove and kicked to Pooh Jeter who drilled a three, giving Elite an 82-62 lead.
With 3:58 remaining, and Elite holding a 85-63 lead, the target score was set to 93. Johnson passed out of a double team to Franklin Session - “Frank Nitty” as he is known in the Drew League as a multiple-time MVP - who hit the three to make it 88-67.
Johnson would ice the game with a turn around fade-away from the left block for point 35, as Elite won handily 93-76.
Herd That, who came off a big win over The Money Team, kept the game competitive for most of it but was simply outmatched late by a more talented roster. John Elmore, a 23 year old who plays in Italy’s Serie A2 Basket, had 23 points to lead Herd That, along with 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Chris Cokley added 17 and Ryan Luther had 11 as three Heard players finished in double figures. Cokley, who last played in Macedonia, averaged 20 points for the tournament. Luther most recently played in Latvia.
For Overseas Elite, Session scored 19, and Raphiael Putney scored 10. Putney plays internationally in Hungary. Johnson finished 15 of 23, including hitting on 5 of 6 three point attempts.
The former NBAer looked to be in a better rhythm today, with more touches and looking very relaxed in getting to his spots. in my opinion, it signals trouble for whomever comes across Overseas Elite next. Elite will play either Boeheim’s Army (a team of Syracuse alumni and a 3 seed in the tournament) or Sideline Cancer (a 22 seed) in the semi-finals on Sunday.
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