Virginia Tech star’s team reaches semifinal round

Cattoor helps Jani-King win on first night

With dozens of pro basketball scouts watching, some of the nation’s better college players whose eligibility recently expired competed Wednesday on the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament’s first night at Churchland High.

Jani-King beat Portsmouth Sports Club 85-79 as Cleveland State’s Tristan Enaruna scored 25 points for the victors. Mississippi State’s Tolu Smith III had 18 points, while UNLV’s Keylan Boone added 10.

Virginia Tech’s Hunter Cattoor, the 2022 ACC Tournament MVP, had nine points, five rebounds and three assists for Jani-King, which led 70-51 after three quarters and advanced to a semifinal at 7 Friday night against Mike Duman Auto Sales.

For Portsmouth Sports Club,

Joel Soriano of St. John’s had 28 points and 12 rebounds, while Alabama’s Aaron Estrada and Villanova’s Tyler Burton, a former Richmond Spiders star, added 13 apiece.

Mike Duman Auto Sales 93, Norfolk Sports Club 86:

Six of Duman’s eight players scored in double figures, led by Florida’s Tyrese Samuel and Nevada’s Jarod Lucas with 19 points apiece. Samuel made 8 of 11 shots.

Illinois’ Quincy Guerrier added nine points and 11 rebounds for Duman, and Eastern Kentucky’s Isaiah Cozart had 11 points, seven rebounds and three blocks.

For Norfolk Sports Club, which led 39-36 at halftime, Xavier’s Quincy Olivari had 20 points and eight rebounds, and Washington State’s Isaac Jones had 20 points and seven rebounds.

Thursday Norfolk Sports Club 92, Portsmouth Sports Club 83:

Baylor’s RayJ Dennis scored 24 points and Liberty’s Kyle Rode added 19 for Norfolk Sports Club in a consolation game, putting their team in Saturday’s 1 p.m. fifth-place contest. Dennis had three steals and five assists, equaling team highs in both categories.

Isaac Jones added 15 points and six rebounds, while Villanova’s Eric Dixon had 12 points for the victors.

Portsmouth Sports Club’s Aaron Estrada led all scorers with 30 points and was 5 of 9 from 3-point range. He also had five assists.

Joel Soriano had 15 points and 13 rebounds, Tyler Burton had 12 points and nine rebounds, and Wisconsin’s Tyler Wahl had 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Portsmouth Sports Club will play for seventh place at 11 a.m. Saturday.

MATT GENTRY/THE ROANOKE TIMES Hunter Cattoor, shown with Virginia Tech, is on a Jani-King team that became the first to advance to this year’s Portsmouth Invitational Tournament semifinals at Churchland High.