Bulldogs get revenge on Camden, win title

Published 12:00 am Sunday, August 8, 2004

Redemption took a while for the Selma Middle CHAT Academy Bulldogs seventh and eighth grade basketball team, but redemption finally came when it mattered most.

After four regular-season losses to Camden, the 7th- and 8th-grade Bulldogs finally beat their rivals to the south, 19-18, to win the Judge Marvin

Wiggins Greensboro Basketball

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Camp Tournament last week.

In other action from the tournament, the Selma Middle CHAT Academy sixth-grade team posted a 3-3 record and finished second overall.

The 7th- and 8th-graders went 7-1 for the tournament, dropping only a four-point decision to Camden to open the competition.

From there the Bulldogs caught fire, recording wins over Greene County Middle School, R.C. Hatch Junior High and Keith Middle School to earn their way to the title game.

“The girls really wanted to beat Camden,” Selma Middle CHAT head coach Ivery Williams said. “We knew we had to defeat Camden to come out with the first-place trophy.”

The tournament included games lasting two 8-minute quarters with running time.

The camp tournament included 22 teams, eight of which were from junior high schools from throughout the state.

Williams credited his teams’ solid performances to Selma CHAT Academy physical

education teacher Herman Turner, who worked with the two squads this summer.

“He worked with the girls on technique this summer,” Williams said. “It really showed at the tournament. He did a really good job.”

Williams also thanked Selma City Schools Superintendent James H. Carter for allowing the teams to participate in the camp and tournament. Williams also was thankful to Selma CHAT Academy principal Charlotte Griffith for her support in taking the team.

“(Carter) was very upbeat about the girls going to the camp,” Williams said. “He told me to take as many kids as

I could.

“I’m very excited about next season,” Williams added, “because of the hard work put in by the sixth graders. We’re going to have a lot of talent on the team next season.”

The team was led by Kamesha Strong and Ashley Grimes, whom Williams called the team’s co-Most Valuable Players during the tournament.

Other team members included Olivia Hunter, Kourtney Hatcher, Raven Peoples, Jameria Johnson, Erica Culpepper, Gabrielle Goudy, Courtney McGee and Whitley Spears.

Members of the Bulldogs’ sixth-grade team included Liddy Ngirailab, Miriah Wilson and Christy Harris.