By Tiffani Addison
After an exciting weekend of dunk contests, 3-point-shootouts, an all-star game, the playoffs and the championship, the Tru Hope Trailblazers are the Atlantic Coastal Professional Basketball League 2010-11 Champions. The Trailblazers defeated the Garden State Rebels in overtime, 97-96.
Donnie Stith led the way with a season high 37 points and 8 rebounds and was named the ACPBL finals MVP. “If Donnie does not have the best game of his life, the Rebels win this game without question,” said ACPBL Commissioner James Schutz. Point-guard Brian Graves also was big scoring 20 points, and snatching down five rebounds, Jason Clark also made his contributions scoring 16 points and grabbing a team high 10 rebounds, four assists, four blocks and three steals. Guard Maurice Latham returned to the starting line-up after missing two months with an injury to average 15.4 points and 9 rebounds for the playoffs and championship.
“I’m speechless,” said Trailblazers’ Owner, Mary Addison. Addison stated that the guys did a good job and fought all the way to the end. “I am very proud of the coach, players and everyone who is involved with the True Hope organization and they demonstrated how dedicated they are to the vision and the goal of this team. It is fantastic!”
Head Coach, Emory Addison said, “Winning the championship was the organization and team’s goal coming into this season and there is a feeling of satisfaction for being able to set your goal, put in the necessary work and then go out and accomplish it.” The Trailblazers were the first team to be selected by the ACPBL for their first season, Addison stated, “Therefore we wanted to be the first team to win the championship.” Addison again restated, “That is a feeling of satisfaction.”
Atlantic Shores Christian High School in Chesapeake, VA was the place to be in the Hampton Roads this weekend. Coach Emory Addison was presented with the ACPBL 2010-11 Coach of the Year Award by Commissioner Schutz. There were players who were representing teams from cities of the state of New York, New Jersey, D.C. and Northern Virginia competing in the North versus South ACPBL All-Star game Friday night. Coach Addison was the head coach of the South team and they defeated the North 154-145 with a highlight reel of more than 20 dunks during the game. UVA’s Jamal Robinson of the Trailblazers won the 3-point shootout competition and the Garden State Rebels Vincent Brooks won the slam dunk contest. Marcus Fisher of the Beltway Bombers was the ACPBL All-Star game MVP, scoring a game high 47 points.
In the Quarter-Finals on Saturday the Beltway Bombers defeated the Hudson Valley Kingz 134-110. In the Semi-Finals the Garden State Rebels defeated the New York Lions 133-130 and the Tru Hope Trailblazers defeated the Beltway Bombers 132-113 to set up Sunday’s epic championship overtime thriller.
