July 14, 2008

RUSTON - Three Louisiana Tech signees led the Alabama Twisters Elite to the open division national championship of the Amateur Athletic Union Girls Basketball this past weekend.

Guards DeAngela Sword, Jasmine Bendolph and Kiara Young led the team, which reached the elite eight of the tournament last year, to the national title by beating the Windsor Valiants 63-61.

All three players were named to the Open Girls All-American team while Sword was named the tournament MVP after pacing her team with 28 points in the championship game.

After winning its first three pool games, Twisters Elite fell 85-71 to the Valiants. The team came back from that loss to win its next two pool games and move into the championship bracket.

Twisters Elite defeated the Florida Ice 72-64 in the semifinal to set the stage for its rematch with the Valiants.

The team includes players from throughout the state of Alabama.