Shelbyville Times-Gazette: Nation's top AAU powers face off Saturday
If you're a huge girls basketball fan, Shelbyville Central High School gym is the place to be Saturday night as what some consider to be the nation's top two AAU travel teams face off around 8 p.m.
Tennessee Flight takes on Georgia Metros in 16-Under AAU action in the fifth annual Showtime Shootout.
Over 50 teams in divisions ranging from ages 16 to 9-Under will compete in gyms across Shelbyville.
As many as 1,000 fans from across the nation are expected to be on hand to see the unbelievable matchup between the two teams.
Tennessee Flight is coached by former Shelbyville Golden Eagles star Matt "Bubba" Insell, son of Shelbyville Eaglette coach Rick Insell.
While many college students spend spring break at the beach, Matt, a manager for the Tennessee men's basketball team, will be leading the Flight.
The amount of talent that will be represented during this game is astonishing. When each team takes the floor at mid-court for the opening tip-off, it will be the most talent ever assembled at one time in Shelbyville. Both teams are among only a few sponsored by Nike, which Rick Insell has been associated with since 1984.
"This is just huge," Rick Insell said. "For teams the caliber of these two to meet this early in the AAU season is just unheard of. There will be AAU coaches from across the nation flying in to scout this game."
Tennessee Flight won the 15-Under AAU Nationals last year. Georgia Metros were runner-up in the 16-Under Nationals last season and basically return everybody this year.
Despite the age difference, Georgia Metros defeated Tennessee Flight twice last year, both times by just one point.
"If you only got to see Cait McMahan in action, it would be well worth it," Insell said.
McMahan, a 5-foot-6 junior guard from Maryville Heritage, is something to see. She verbally committed to the University of Tennessee as an underclassman. Every time she steps on the floor to play the gym is packed. She was a Class AAA Miss Basketball finalist as a sophomore.
She'll be joined by Shelbyville 3-point standout Kayla Bryant and Oak Ridge's KeKe Stewart, the top post player prospect in Tennessee, among other stars.
"Expect to see a fast-paced game in which both teams could score around the 100 mark despite playing good defense," Matt Insell said. "This is really going to be fun to watch."
This will also be what is believed to be the first travel basketball game broadcast over the Internet, on ShowtimeBball.com and shelbyvilleeaglettes.com.
Earlier on Saturday the Shelbyville Sport Shop 13s take on Tennessee Team Pride of Murfreesboro, coached by former Eaglette, Tennessee Lady Vol and Houston standout Tiffany Woosley.