By By Matthew Nascone
The Atmore Trouble basketball team, under the direction of Jerome Webster and Willie Knight, recently participated in the Southeast Sports Festival in Hoover on July 29-30.
Atmore Trouble came in second place in the 12 and under division of the tournament. They received this invitation after participating in the Alabama Sports Festival in Mobile in June.
After returning from Mobile the team played in several scrimmage games against teams from Bay Minette and Stockton to prepare for the Southeast Sports Festival. Atmore Trouble played four games and won three of those four tournament games.
The team was defeated 45-14 by the Smiley Court Ballers in their first game. Atmore Trouble took charge of their game and defeated the Orchard Swarms 48-24, the LA Ballers 51-37 and the Atmore Trouble B team 37-28.
Atmore Trouble B is the 10 and under team that competed in the 12 and under division because there were not enough teams in their age group.
"These young men played an awesome ball game to be competing against kids in an older age division," Webster said.
The Atmore Trouble basketball team is the beginning of a new competitive level of basketball for kids ages 8-14 years old. The team originates from the winter basketball league at the Atmore YMCA. The children are selected from the teams participating in the Y program as well as other sports programs in the community. The teams first competed in the Alabama Sports Festival in 2004.
"We hope to keep going and compete here every year," Webster said.
We would like to especially thank the following sponsors: The Atmore Advance, Atmore Area YMCA, Gulf Winds Credit Union, Feaster Tires, Atmore News, Alto Products, Johnson Ford, Chuck Stevens Chevrolet, EZ-Glam Studios, Heavenly Delight, Gold's BBQ, Atmore Mayor Howard Shell, Gaines Chapel Church, Faith Tabernacle Church, A.O.H. Church, Harold Dailey, Pepsi, Zickeyous Byrd, Charles McGinnis, Winn-Dixie, David's Catfish House, El Bethel Church, Angela &Company, Tomese's Styles, Atmore Family Medicine, Escambia County High School principal Kyle Ferguson, ECHS athletic director Kyle Davis, Lucille Matthews, Nails R' Us, Nails by Stephanie, Natalie's Styles of Beauty and most of all, the parents of the Atmore Trouble basketball team.
"Without your support we would not have been able to accomplish this great achievement," Webster said. "Thank you and may God continue to bless our team, for we can do all things through Christ that strengthens us."