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Team goes 2-1 at Gibbons
AAUNewYork
Melissa Ray, Jay Osteen, Steve Sikes, the St. James Coastal Crew 16U Rebels, Jerry Kicklighter, David Linderman, Ernie Walthour, Larry Mannion, Terrence Alston Sr. and Mike Brown stand at the St. James Sports Center. - photo by Phgoto by Patty Leon

The St. James Coastal Crew 16U Rebels went 2-1 at the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions last weekend at the Suwanee Sports Complex.
According to Rebels coach Ernie Walthour, the boys beat the Kansas Heat Elite last Friday night in overtime, 74-71.
“It was a complete team effort,” Walthour said. “Herbert Roberts led in scoring, Domonique Kirkely and Jamorris Hill had some key stops in the stretch, Miguel Pineda was on top of his shooting and Tevin Womack hit two big shots late in the game for us.”
The boys also won against NBA player Amar’e Stoudermire’s AAU team, E1T1, 71-70.
“We beat them by one,” Walthour said. “Freddy McSwain hit a shot with 1.7 seconds left on the clock for the win.”
The boys lost the final game against an Under Armour sponsored team called Team Loaded, 81-70.
Rebel Herbert Roberts averaged 18 points per game.
With the tournament behind them, the boys are now setting their sights on the Big Apple with their first trip to New York City next Thursday.
On Tuesday, the Rebels met with their sponsors, Larry Mannion of M&M Motors, Melissa Ray of State Farm, Jay Osteen from Osteen and Osteen Law Firm, Liberty County Sheriff Steve Sikes, Jerry Kicklighter and Rebels coach Mike Brown for a special thank you celebration.
The group and sponsors Liberty County Bonding Company, Liberty Chrysler and Linda Shumm pitched in funds to make the Rebels’ first trip to New York City possible.
“They’ve been on board from day one,” Walthour said about the sponsors. “They’ve all supported these kids for a long time and they wanted to give these kids an opportunity to go to different areas, and even in the tough times they have always done something to help us.”
The team will ride the Amtrak train to New York’s Madison Square Garden. The Rebels will even have the opportunity to tour Yankee Stadium and the Empire State Building.
“From what I understand, we are the only team from Georgia playing at the King of the Rock,” Walthour said. “We are pleased to be representing the state and Liberty County.”

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