Team Southern Indiana 2011 Red lost their opening game of pool play, then rebounded to win six straight games en route to capturing the 17 and under gold-bracket title in front of a solid contingent of college coaches at the Hoosier Shootout in Indianapolis.

Jeffersonville’s V.J. Billups racked up 24 points and New Albany’s Chris Whitehead added 19 as TSI 2011 Red got past the B.A. Hoyas 77-67 in the championship game. New Albany’s Morgan Toliver and Corydon’s Brandon Dunaway added 15 and nine points, respectively.

The team’s toughest tests came in the quarter and semifinal rounds of elimination tournament play. TSI 2011 Red avenged a loss at the Indiana AAU State Tournament to Spiece Select 2011, 74-49, and defeated New Albany graduate Donnie Hale and Spiece All-Indiana in the semis, 79-69.

The 2011 Red team will play this weekend at the Kentucky HoopFest in Louisville before traveling to Morgantown, W.Va., for the Hoop Group’s West Virginia Jamfest and then Orlando, Fla., for the AAU Super Showcase.