TSI Select 9th Grade Boys Battle Through Elite Competition at Grassroots Showcase for Runner-up position

The TSI Select 9th grade boys took on an incredibly competitive field of 58 teams at the Grassroots Showcase last weekend in Louisville, KY — and they brought the fight! While their undefeated season streak came to an end, the boys showed heart and hustle, finishing 3-2 against some of the top talent in the country.

They opened the showcase with a dominant 77–32 win over the Lake Erie Defenders. Eli Gilpin (South Ripley) was on fire, dropping 25 points. He got plenty of help from Andrew Nussbaum (Southwestern) with 13 and Caiden Boswell (Scottsburg) who chipped in 11. Gilpin also led the team with 6 rebounds, while Ethan Noble (Floyd Central) dished out 5 dimes.

In their second game, Select faced a tough opponent in Louisville Magic, falling 61–47 in a physical battle. Boswell and Noble each had 12 points, and Lucas Hobbs (South Central) added 11. Hudson Smith (Floyd Central) dominated the glass with 8 boards, and Noble once again led in assists with 5.

Game three brought another thriller, as Select edged out the Shelby Stars 67–64 in a nail-biter. Gilpin and Noble each scored 16, with Boswell adding 12. The game was a grind, and Hobbs' second-half lockdown defense on the Stars' point guard was the game-changer.

In the tournament semifinals, Select rolled past Ohio Future 62–42. Boswell and Gilpin each dropped 16 points, with Boswell cleaning up the boards with 10 rebounds. Noble was back at it, leading the team with 6 assists.

In the championship game, Select found themselves in a showdown with Tennessee Impact. They led 49–48 with just 3:50 left, but a sudden 9–0 run by Impact sealed the deal. The final score was 65–51. Gilpin led the way with 15 points and 8 rebounds, while JP Siltz (Henryville) added 12 points and Noble contributed 10 points and 4 assists.

Up next: the Run & Slam in Fort Wayne — one of the toughest tournaments in the nation. This team is battle-tested and hungry. Stay tuned!