News

Local basketball team to enter national spotlight

  • Published
  • By Kendahl Johnson
  • 78 ABW/PA
Robins Air Force Base, GA --  A group of young basketball players from Middle Georgia are building a reputation as being one of the toughest in the state. The Perry Knights, a 12-and-under Division II Youth Basketball of America team, recently won the state championship and will soon have a chance to showcase their talents on the national level.

The Knights, a team of nine players, including five whose parents work at Robins, received an invitation to compete in the YBOA National Championships in Orlando, Fla, July 26 to Aug. 2.

"This is by far our biggest opportunity," said head coach Terry Sams, a program monitor in the 559th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. "We have a real chance to win the tournament and that means exposure for our players and potential endorsements or sponsorships."

Sams has been coaching for more than five years on base. He got involved when his son, T.J., became old enough to start playing organized ball. Several years ago, he was asked to coach as an assistant in the YBOA league. This is his first year as a head coach and he is thoroughly enjoying it.

"I've fallen in love with coaching," Sams said. "It is amazing to teach kids, who don't know how to dribble or shoot, the fundamentals of playing basketball. You watch them grow and develop year after year and it's very rewarding."

His teams have reached varying levels of success throughout the years, including several base championships. This is the first year a team he helped coach has climbed the YBOA ranks to first place. But it wasn't an easy climb. Early in the season, the team struggled.

"My players have always had the skill and talent to win, but we needed to work on the mental aspect of the game," Sams said.

Once the players were able to develop mental skills to match their physical skills, they started winning. Another contributor to the team's success was Sams' ability to keep many of the same players on the team year after year.

"We've been playing together for a long time now and we are used to playing with each other," said power forward Eric Lockett, son of Antoinette Simmons of the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center Plans and Programs Office. "We've been successful and if we play like we know we can, we will win the national championship."

Eric's teammate, point guard Detraviouis "Trey" Dennis, son of Staff Sgt. Keith Hagan of the 78th Security Forces, agreed.

"We have a good roster. Everyone knows what they are supposed to do and they do it," he said. "I think we'll do really well in the tournament."

One potential obstacle that could prohibit the team from competing for the title is the large financial cost. The team must raise $5,000 by July 9 to cover tournament fees and travel expenses.

"The amount of money we need now is a little bit beyond what we can get from washing cars or selling donuts," Sams said.

The team has received some support from Perry Parks and Recreation Department, which provides a practice facility and a van for travel to and from tournaments. The Midsouth Federal Credit Union has also supported the team financially, but Sams said he is still well short of the overall goal.

"I would hate to deny our kids this opportunity because we couldn't raise enough money," he said.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the team can contact Sams at 919-5134.