A slamming great time… Slam dunk contest always a fan favorite at Arby’s Classic
Published 12:15 am Thursday, January 2, 2020
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Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Marcus Farley Jr. of North Mecklenburg goes high for a two-handed slam.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Tennessee High's Jaden Keller completes a two-handed reverse dunk in round two of the competition.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Jaden Keller of Tennessee High with the winning dunk as he leaps two of his teammates to throw down a one-handed dunk.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Denardo Adderley from Tabernacle Grand Bahamas soars for a one-handed tomahawk dunk.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders John Sierputowski from Mentor, Ohio completes his first round dunk attempt.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Elizabethton's Nico Ashley participated in the Slam Dunk contest as part of the Arby's Classic fan favorite.
BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com
BRISTOL – The parking lots filled fast at Bristol’s Viking Hall on Monday as fans eagerly arrived to take in one of the fan favorite’s of all the Arby’s Classic events as the slam dunk contest was slated to take place before the two semifinal games to see who was going to battle it out for the title.
Kids, as well as adults, were giddy watching the young athletes warm up in preparation for the contest which featured 16 competitors including Elizabethton’s own Nico Ashley.
Each contest had two attempts per round to complete a dunk to remain in the contest.
As each round progressed, a few more of the competitors dropped out of the competition trying to achieve dunks that weren’t in their wheelhouse resulting in being eliminated from advancing.
Ashley managed to work his way through two rounds of dunks before failing to convert on a dunk where he lofted the ball out in front of him and attempted to throw the basketball down as he came close to the goal.
It was disappointing for the senior Cyclone as several in attendance had gotten behind the athletic Ashley.
In the end, it was Tennessee High’s own Jaden Keller who ended up walking away with the Dick’s Sporting Goods Slam Dunk title coming on the heels of a tremendous finishing dunk.
Keller lined up two of his Viking teammates and taking a good run and go, jumped over both of the players and finished off with a one-handed dunk that brought the competitors and fans to their feet.
The three-point shootout took place on Tuesday afternoon with several local players participating as the tournament wrapped up another successful run in its 37th year of existence.
Hampton closed out the tournament in the consolation final against Tennessee High.
