During the week of July 20 through July 28, the Alexandria Titans 6th and 9th grade teams traveled to Myrtle Beach, S.C. to participate in the National Travel Basketball Association Nationals Championship Tournament. More than 300 teams were represented during this week-long tournament. Parental support, local donations and fundraising helped the teams afford the opportunity to stay in Myrtle Beach and to compete in this national tournament.
The Titans 6th Grade Team played seven games in which they were victorious in all except for one. They were given the opportunity to replay the team they lost to in the championship game and came out victorious and to be crowned the 2014 NTBA 6th Grade National Champions.
Most of the players on the 6th grade teams have played in the city’s Recreation Department League since the age of 8 representing the Charles Houston, William Ramsay, Mac Arthur, Cora Kelly and Nannie J. Lee Recreation Centers. The ages of the boys now are 12 and 13.
Coaches Reginald Diggins and Willie “Giz” Jones are also from Alexandria have taken the 6th grade boys to several championship victories in local tournaments and now they are the national champions in their grade group.
The 9th Grade Team advanced to the semi-finals in which they took their first defeat which eliminated them from the championship game.
Marvin J. Elliott, the commissioner of the Alexandria Titans organization and former coach of the 6th grade Alexandria Titans, believes this team of young athletes has nothing but “great things in their future.”
In addition to the 6th and 9th grade teams Elliott also has a 4th and 7th grade team in the Titans organization.