The seventh-grade Coastal Crew Rebels went 3-1 in pool play in the Martin Luther King Basketball Tournament held Jan. 18-19 in Atlanta.
According to coach Simon Steele, the Rebels were competing at the 14U level which allowed them to play against two ninth grade teams.
“Playing against older teams helped us become stronger,” he said.
The coach said the Rebels beat the first three teams by a combined 33 points.
“These kids played hard,” Steele said. “The one loss we took was to a ninth-grade team, and we lost by four points.”
Steele said the team had the opportunity to continue in bracket play Jan. 20, but the coaching staff and team felt it was more important to return to Hinesville to participate that day in the MLK parade in honor of former Coastal Crew Rebels’ coach and founder, Ernie Walthour.
“We thought since it was a nice way to honor his memory … he is gone, but not forgotten. The legacy continues,” Steele said.