2023 King of the Courts: Tywan Takes the Crown
WPH Press, Jamaica, NY, 7/1/23
The St. Albans Handball Association presented the 2023 King of the Courts at Joseph Austin Playground (Edison Park) in Jamaica, NY, featuring the best men’s big ball 1-Wall singles players at one of the summer’s premiere events.
Due to weather concerns in the Sunday forecast, the 2023 King of the Courts was shortened to Saturday only, meaning the 2023 King of the Court would have to win six matches in one day.
2023 USHA WallBall national champion Tavo Ruiz was aiming for two major titles in seven days and advanced to the Saturday early-evening final with impressive wins against Naz Marston in the quarterfinals and Kadeem Bush in the semifinals.
Tywan Cook was aiming for revenge at the 2023 King of the Courts after a disappointing result at last week’s 2023 USHA WallBall Nationals. Tywan cruised to the final with wins against Luis Justo in the quarterfinals and Hector “Pito” Velez in the semifinals.
The final pitted two of the most exciting players in handball battling in one of the most electric atmospheres in the sport. The Edison Park court was filled to capacity with fans on the left and right sidelines, as well as behind the back sideline to enthusiastically support the best players in the sport.
Tavo rode his hot hand into the final, having won the USHA WallBall Nationals last weekend and defeating Tywan convincingly in the semifinals en route to the title. Tavo put himself in position to win two consecutive major titles, building a 14-9 lead in the one game final to 25 on the strength of a low power serve and incredible angled kills.
Tavo was unable to stretch his lead, ultimately finding himself trailing 16-17 following an 8-2 run from Tywan that featured incredible movement, strategy, and shot making from the 1-Wall legend.
Several weak Tywan return of serves led to a Tavo first-strike run, as the current national champion reasserted control of the match by scoring four of the next five points to take a 21-18 lead. Tavo found himself stuck on 21, as four service innings resulted in no points. Tywan cut into the lead and eventually caught Tavo at 21, capitalizing with re kills and two missed opportunities from Tavo.
With both players exhausted from six matches during the day, Tywan took his last timeout, telling the referee that it would be the last one he needed. With Tywan serving at 22-21, Tavo thought a Tywan drive down the left was out, only to be overruled by the referee, resulting in the twenty-third point for Tywan.
Tywan scored his sixth consecutive point to serve for the match at 24-21 but could not close out the match, as Tavo finally climbed off 21 to score two points, cutting Tywan’s lead to 23-24. A Tywan flat kill on the sixth shot of the 23-24 rally earned Tywan a side out and his third serve to win the match. Tavo hit a weak return off a deep Tywan serve down the middle, leading to a Tywan fly kill and the match.
Quarterfinals
Kadeem Bush def David Velez 21-
Tavo Ruiz def Naz Marston 25-21
Tywan Ruiz def Luis Justo
Hector Velez def Carlin Rosa
Semifinals
Tavo def Kadeem
Tywan def Hector Velez
Final: Tywan def Tavo 25-23
Thank you to TensFinest for an outstanding broadcast of the 2023 King of the Courts and to the St. Albans Handball Association for hosting an sponsoring an outstanding event.
Follow the St. Albans Handball Association on Facebook HERE
Watch action from the 2023 King of the Courts courtesy of TensFinest HERE
2023 King of the Courts bracket HERE
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer