One-time Penn State star enjoying hoops at Lakemont Park

Summer Basketball League

Tyler Smith was one of the members of the 2000-01 Penn State basketball team that upset North Carolina in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. After his college career, he was lucky enough to play 11 years professionally all over the world, having a career with 12 different teams in seven countries.

"At one point, I was on four different continents in four years," Smith said.

Smith, who now lives and works in State College, was a big contributor for top-seeded Hoopsfest in the Division 1 semifinals of the Lakemont Park Men's Summer League. Smith scored 19 points, leading Hoopsfest to a 69-57 victory over fourth-seeded Mama Randazzo's on Monday night.

"There's a lot of great talent in the league," Smith said. "I get to play with a bunch of my buddies. It sure beats running on the treadmill."

Hoopsfest will play third-seeded Mike's Court for the championship on Wednesday. Mike's Court knocked off No. 2 Spherion, 54-43, behind Anthony Colbert's 19 points. Tony Archie had 15 points to lead Spherion.

Hoopsfest, which also has former Penn State greats Talor Battle and Joe Crispin, and current Nittany Lion assistant coach Jamal Brunt on its roster, had a mix of experience and youth for the night.

Smith, still playing at 45 years old, was second to 2023 Altoona graduate Jalen Triplin, who led Hoopsfest with 25 points for the game. Triplin will play at Penn State Altoona in the upcoming season.

"Today was a team effort. I did my part. Tyler did his part. It was just a great effort," Triplin said.

Mama Randazzo's played the entirety of the game with only five players, but Hoopsfest only had six available players.

"We were a little short-handed, but thankfully they were too," Smith said. "We did enough to get by, and hope we have one more in us on Wednesday."

Mama Randazzo's held a brief lead in the first half after a Kaden Claar 3-pointer, and led by as many as five points at 22-17. Hoopsfest rattled off 12 straight points to re-take the lead, and never gave it up. The biggest bucket came on a Triplin trey to end the first half to put Hoopsfest up 39-30.

Mama Randzzo's cut it to as close as seven points in the second half, but another 10-2 run by Hoopsfeat put away any hopes of a comeback.

Dwayne James had 15 points to lead Mama Randazzo's, while Andrew Escala had 13 points.

In the Division 2 semifinals, top-seeded Metzler Bro. Transport defeated Skillz Team, 63-33. Joey Smith had 24 points to lead Metzler Bros, while Khalil Fortson had 13 for Skillz Team. The No. 3 seed Sideline Cancer downed second-seeded Beating the Odds, 44-41. Rocco Grassi had 11 for Sideline Cancer, while Damon Gripp had 10 points for Beating the Odds.

MAMA RANDAZZO'S (57): Escala 6 0-0 13, Claar 5 1-2 12, Jones 7 0-1 15, Repko 5 0-1 10, Vayda 3 0-0 7. Totals -- 26 1-4 57.

HOOPSFEST (69): T. Smith 8 3-3 19, Z. Smith 1 0-0 3, Walters 4 0-0 8, Triplin 11 0-0 25, Dickens 4 2-2 10, Shippen 2 0-2 4. Totals -- 30 5-7 69.

Halftime: Hoopsfest, 39-30. 3-point goals: Mama Randazzo's 4 (Escala, Claar, Jones, Vayda); Hoopsfest 4 (Z. Smith, Triplin 3).

OTHER GAMES

METZLER BROTHERS 63, SKILLZ TEAM 33: High scorers–Joey Smith, MBT, 24; Kahlil Fortson, ST, 13.

SIDELINE CANCER 44, BEATING THE ODDS 41: High scorers–Damon Gripp, BTO, 10; Rocco Grassi, SC, 11.

MIKE'S COURT 54, SPHERION 43: High scorers–Tony Archie, S, 15; Anthony Colbert, MC, 19.