August 19, 2009

Team Battle finishes third in national AAU hoops tourney 
BY SHAWN LAYTON Staff Writer 
The Team Battle 11U AAU basketball team made history earlier this month at the Division I National Championships in Cocoa Beach, Fla.

The 2009 state championship team cracked the tournament's Final Four and brought home a third-place finish, a feat never before accomplished by a state team.

Team Battle, based in Woodbridge, qualified for the event after defeating the King Street Kings of Maplewood for the state crown back in May. Before heading to Cocoa Beach, the team made stops at tune-up events in Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.

Once at Cocoa Beach, Team Battle opened its tournament play with seven straight victories. Team Battle knocked off the Houston Hoops, the CB Spiders of North Carolina, and the Slam-n-Jam Hoyas from Maryland to win its pool and advance to the winners' bracket.

In the next round of the tournament, Team Battle defeated Compound Ent/Worldwide of Georgia before knocking off the Indiana Elite Jazz and the Puerto Rico Playmakers to land a spot in the Final Four.

Unfortunately, a trip to the finals was thwarted by eventual champion Ohio Elite Knights. The Knights advanced to the title game for a second straight season but were able to get the job done this time around with a win over the Georgia Stars in the title game. Team Battle finished third overall with a 56-42 win over the Georgia Rim Rockers in the consolation game following its semifinal loss. 
"Our kids really worked hard and it was a huge sense of accomplishment," Team Battle head coach Gary Battle said. "The real key was the fact that we truly became a family. We went out with a strategy and plan, and it makes me feel really proud for the kids."

With the stakes at its highest all season, several players saw their playing time decrease, but the continued teamwork and sacrifice from players and parents alike was most impressive to Battle.

"We try to get everybody into the game, but it wasn't always possible at the national championship," he said. "The parents and players understood, and it was great to have everyone on board."

This year's team was composed of 11 players, including two of Battle's sons, Khalif and Tyus. Tyus led this year's team with 17 points per game.

"It was a complete team effort this season," Battle said. "Because Tyus has earned national recognition, teams went after him defensively and other players had to step up for us. Jamir Harris responded really well in the tournament."

In addition to the Battle brothers and Harris, this season's team consisted of Chase Barneys, Khalief Crawford, Darius Gillon, Jagan Mosely, Joshua Postadan, William Sessoms, John Venturi and Leondre Washington. Joining Battle on the sidelines this season was assistant coach Laquan Harris.

Team Battle will look to reload and get set for another run at a national title. The team earned an automatic bid for the 12U National Championship in Hampton, Va., and will begin its quest for a title with a clinic on Sept. 12. Players ages 7-14 are welcome to participate.

"We draw a lot of our boys and girls teams from the clinics," Battle said. "We focus on technical skills and team concept drills at the clinics, and a big part is learning and listening."