“Coaches Got Game Too” Recap

Photo credits: Midfield Patriots Basketball

Some of the finest Birmingham Metro Area high school basketball coaches showed up and showed out for the first ever “Coaches Got Game Too” basketball game.

The main goal was to raise funds for Midfield High School’s basketball programs. Pulling in a nice crowd, the event did just that and Midfield boys head coach and sponsor Darrell Barber says he plans to make the game an annual event. http://wp.me/p4cFCW-hR

Ironically, the game was held on the same day as the first ever Triumph Awards that aired on TV One. During the show, rapper T.I. performed a spoken word piece that concluded with the words, “united we stand.” The Triumph Awards’ sole purpose was to honor those who have positively impacted their communities and industries. In the same way, one of the intentions of the basketball game was to unite high school coaches in the BMA and show that they could come together for a great cause, because just as the Swahili proverb says, “unity is strength and and division is weakness.”

Not only was the game a chance for coaches to apply what they’re constantly preaching to their players, who were spectating from the stands, but it was also an opportunity for coaches to play against each other and prove that they still got it.

It was a competitive game from start to finish, but Midfield girls head coach Charles Thomas’ visiting squad proved to be too much for Barber and company, winning 51-46.

The game went down to the wire, but Thomas knocked down a three-pointer late in the fourth that sealed the deal for his team. However, the play of Minor High School boys head coach Derrick Williams and Hoover High School boys head coach Charles Burkett is what catapulted the visiting team to victory.

Finishing with 15 points, Williams was the engine that kept his team going the entire game. He and Barber battled for most of the contest, but when fatigue kicked in for everyone else, Williams continued to run on a full tank of gas.

Trailing 30-22 at the half, the visiting squad came out firing on all cylinders in the second half powered by Burkett’s sharp shooting. Silent for most of the first half, he led all scorers with 17 points and the only dunk in the game that put the icing on the cake of a great come-from-behind win for his team. Woodlawn assistant boys coach Zeinu Tamimu also added 10 points for the visiting team.

Barber led the way for the home squad with 13 points. Huffman High School boys head coach Steve Ward had a quiet 11 points and both Midfield boys assistant coach Courtney Jones and McAdory head boys coach James Poindexter chipped in eight points, but it wouldn’t be enough as their team was outscored 29-16 in the second half.