The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

The Texas Ball Hawks 13U AAU team competed in the “Stars R Born Tournament” in Houston the weekend of February 24-25, and took home the Championship and first place trophy. The team is comprised of seventh graders, ages 13 and under, from Beaumont, Port Arthur, Orangefield and Lumberton.

In Saturday’s pool play, the Ball Hawks lost their opener to Future Phenoms, 43-46, before winning their next two games against the D1 All Stars (44-16), and Rookies (59-19). As a result, the Ball Hawks advanced to Sunday’s bracket play as the number two team from their pool. In the quarterfinals, the Ball Hawks defeated the Rytes Warriors 53-51. They then defeated the top seed from the other pool, Houston Phenoms, 52-33 in the semifinals. In the finals, the Ball Hawks were able to come away with the championship, as well as exact some revenge for their opening loss, by defeating the Future Phenoms 64-59 in overtime.

Picture: Bottom Row, kneeling (L-R): Jakobe Dill, LiJon Smith, Darion Chatman, and Jomard Valsin; top Row, standing (L-R): Coach Michael Catt, Houston Sonnier, Coach John Chambers, Alex Catt, Keitha Jones Jr., Nick King, and Byron Arceneaux; not pictured: Coach Jay Dill.