The 15U South Georgia Kings played five tough games in two days last weekend, giving the team its second championship trophy in only two weeks. The boys, coached by Derrick Brooks, returned recently from Augusta, where they performed solidly at the AAU Super Regional Tournament. Two weeks ago, the 15U squad won the championship trophy at the Jacksonville Coast to Coast Super Regional.
The boys took game one against the Dillard Intimidators of South Carolina. Brooks said Aaron Scott led in scoring, knocking in 27 points. JJ Frazier chipped in 14, David Rogers hit 18, Henry Peeples added 6 and Chris LaRochester dropped in 4.
Scott led the boys again in their victory over the Augusta Bulls. He put in 14, and Frazier added 13. Jamal Anderson, a freshman at Long County High School, chipped in 9. Liberty County High School freshman Alton Sapp scored 8. Peeples and LaRochester knocked in 4 each, and David Rogers scored 5.
The Kings played and defeated an Under Armor-sponsored team, the Atlanta Express, in game three. Frazier led in scoring, contributing 20 points. Scott chipped in 16, Rogers 15, Sapp 10, Anderson 8, LaRochester 7 and Peeples 3.In the semi-finals, Brooks said his team won against a LeBron James-sponsored program, Evans Middle School.
Frazier took the lead, hitting 26 points. Scott had 18, Anderson scored 12, Peeples knocked in 9, Rogers put in 7, Sapp had 5 and Derrick Richardson scored 2.
For the championship game, against the Atlanta Phoenix, the coach said his team traveled 12 miles to play and had only nine minutes to warm up.
"They are a very well-coached and disciplined team," Brooks said about their final opponent.
The coach said Frazier and Scott led the team again, scoring 15 and 13 points, respectively.
"We had very balanced scoring all weekend," Brooks said. "Good contribution from all of the kids who went. We were understaffed this weekend. Three of our players were not able to make the trip. Peeples showed up big for us again this weekend. He had 5 points (in the final) but he had a bunch of blocks and rebounds."
Brooks said the boys played three games Sunday and only had about an hour between matches to rest. He said he was pleased with the effort put forth by his players throughout the weekend.
"Several kids had to step up in situations and three of them had to start for the first time," the coach said. "They hadn’t started all year and that left my bench depleted so all of the kids who came and contributed this weekend really came and hung in there and faced a lot of adversity. They had to face rowdy crowds in Augusta and some really good teams there. They were able to step up and contribute."
The victory put the 15U Kings in a better position for seeding at the state tournament later this month.
"Things are looking good for us right now," Brooks said.
He said the 14U SGK qualified for the national tournament as well by placing second in Augusta. They played five games and went 4-1, but lost the championship game.