Area players lead Mercury Elite at Indy Jam Fest

 INDIANAPOLIS – The Wheaton/Naperville-based Mercury Elite organization sent two of its 17-U teams to the Hoosier Jam Fest and both teams enjoyed a level of success.

 The Red team, coached by Naperville’s Eric Pauga, took second place overall in the 48-team tournament Sunday, April 21 at Ben Davis High School, while the Black team, coached by Downers Grove North’s Jim Thomas, overcame a one-point loss in a pool play game to ring up three wins to win a co-championship in the Bronze Division.

 “This was the first live weekend in which NCAA Division I coaches were allowed to watch players and our teams picked up some notice,” Mercury Elite President Dave Ruggles said. “To have a team in the championship of a tournament like this serves notice that we have a team that is of a national caliber.

 “The Black team has several key 16-year-olds playing up and after suffering the pool loss, it really came back and did what it needed to do in the Bronze bracket. It was a great weekend.”

 The Red team beat the Quinn Anvils from Kentucky, Old School Carpenter from the western suburbs and SYF Uptempo from Indianapolis in the Gold Division before falling to a team from the Indianapolis-based Eric Gordon organization.

 Matt Brachmann (an Elmhurst resident who attends Montini), scored 15 in the title game and Collin Pellettieri (Glen Ellyn/Benet) added eight. Austin Pauga (a Naperville native who attends IMG Academy in Florida) had 23 points in the semis.

 Other members of the Red team are James Pupillo (Villa Park/Addison Trail), Anthony Rehayem (Lisle/Naperville North), Alex Jeske (Glen Ellyn/Glenbard South), Nick Lemanski (Naperville/Naperville North), Gordon Behr (West Chicago/Wheaton Academy), Matt Kienzle (Wheaton/Wheaton-Warrenville South) and John and Tom Kurzydym (Naperville/Benet).

 The Black team beat the DuPage Training Academy, the St. Louis Gym Rats Select and the Cleveland-based National Basketball Academy for the co-title.

 Chris Parrilli (Geneva/Geneva High School), had 19 points in the final game while Adam Hart (St. Charles/Wheaton Academy) added 10  and T.J. Vorva (Orland Park/Sandburg) had eight rebounds and five blocked shots. Josh Ruggles (Wheaton/Wheaton Academy) hit 26 points in a two-point win over St. Louis and Nate Navagato (Geneva/Geneva High School) added 19 including 15 in the second half.

 Guard Cam Cook (Geneva/Geneva) pulled down 14 rebounds in the bracket games, Dave Mason (St. Charles/St. Charles East) had nine points and eight rebounds against DTA. Mike Landi (Geneva/Geneva) did not make the trip.

 The two teams will return to Indianapolis to play in the adidas Spring Classic starting Friday, April 26.

“As good as the competition was for the Jam Fest, this competition could be better,” Ruggles said.