Everybody loves a comeback story! Asphalt Green’s 12U travel basketball team, led by Coach Shirod, competed in the Teach Me Classic in Teaneck, New Jersey during the winter season, and they had a rocky start.
In November they lost two of their first three games. But they soon rallied, and Coach Shirod led the team on a six-game winning streak, propelling them all the way to the championship.
On Saturday, February 11, the team faced tough competition in the championship game, but they won for the seventh time in a row, ending their season 8-2.
“The team trailed at halftime and very similar to our start to the season we overcame the adversity of a slow start,” says Coach Shirod. “I told the team that championships are not only won on the day they are played but during the countless hours of practice we've put in throughout the years. We have been champions before, so it wasn't unfamiliar territory for us. To start the second half, we went on a 12-2 run and never looked back, ultimately winning us the league championship. We played with purpose, poise, and passion!”
The Teach Me Classic is a competitive league sanctioned by the Amateur Athletic Union, and clinching the championship there automatically earned the team a spot in The AGame SuperShootout in Spooky Nook, Pennsylvania during the weekend of March 24. This tournament draws over 650 top teams from 15 states.
This is a huge win for a team that has been together for over three years. They even won a championship in the 55 Swish League when they were competing together as a 9u basketball team. Out of the eleven players who won that championship, nine are still in the program, and four are part of the current championship team.
Congratulations to our players and to Coach Shirod! Stay tuned to find out how they perform in the next tournament on March 24.