Goodman League’s Charity Basketball Game Event Thrills

Ron Bailey, Publisher

Ballers balled and fans supported for two good causes.

August 16, 2010 – This past Sunday the George Goodman League – an outdoor pro/am summertime league held in Southeast Washington’s Barry Farms Dwellings – held its annual Charity Game Event at Georgetown’s McDonough Arena. For a day that league’s action was taken off the hardtop of Barry Farms and held indoors.

Both the excellent concessions and level of basketball was the same though, with professional caliber players of all levels doing battle, this time for noble causes; the league itself and Project Giveback, a church based service built to ensure holiday happiness for underprivileged people.

Tia Jackson defends Chinieze Nwagbo; its G'Town vs Syracuse all over again.

The headliner, a men’s professional game in which those who largely have and haven’t played in the National Basketball Association matched up, was preceded by a rare treat in ex-collegiate women players taking the floor. During the latter tilt, the White team downed Green Machine 45-38.

Kim Smith, a former G’Town player scored 13 points for White, while Ro ‘Lucky’ Luckett, who played at VCU, dropped nine. Tia Jackson, also a former Hoya, scored six points.

Though engaged in a losing effort, Green Machine’s Lauren Brittingham, a sharpshooter out of UAB, scored a game high 19 points, mostly from three point land. For her efforts, Goodman League director Miles Rawls named her MVP “without a doubt”. It was Brittingham’s back to back three pointers that pushed Green ahead 36-33 with around seven minutes to play.

Andrew 'Spongebob' Washington attacks the tin, with Demarcus Cousins in tow. Sponge was named MVP.

Ex-Syracuse Orange player Chinieze Nwagbo scored four points and manned the boards for Green Machine, who to close the game struggled to score.

That was not a problem in the men’s game, as Goodman’s All-Stars bested the NBA Dudes 129-127. The losers had a chance to tie/win the game with three shots in the last 10 seconds or so, but all of them clanked. Mike Beasley (25 points) and DeMarcus Cousins (19 points) – forward of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Sacramento Kings center, respectively – were responsible for two of those misses.

Down 69-65 at halftime, the Goodman All-Stars endured a tumultuous third quarter, twice falling behind eight points, only to lead 105-103 going into the fourth stanza. Much of their success can be attributed to international pro now headed to Russia, Andrew ‘Spongebob’ Washington, a guard who scored seven of his 19 points in the period; constantly driving and getting to the free throw line or finding teammates, Washington’s energy and aggression were key.

Of that period, he noted “I just got going…I’ve been working hard and my athletic ability took over. It shows what can happen with hard work”. Rawls and a panel of experts at the scoring table tabbed Spongebob MVP for his work.

Ty Lawson at the rim.

For the victors Robert Diggs, former GW star at forward headed likely to Israel this year scored 16 points, while Austria-bound sharpshooting swingman Omar Weaver chipped in 13 points. Isaiah Swann, a guard who last season saw action in Israel, likely is headed to Europe and is has League caliber skills, dropped 21 points for the NBA Dudes, while a player already in the 'L', current Detroit Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson, chipped in 12 for that team.

Once again Rawls and his band of volunteers put on an excellent day of hoops, with great causes benefiting. It goes to show what a focused and committed group of people can do.

Player Notes:

Hugh Jones (Baby Shaq) is weighing his options, with both domestic and international options presenting themselves. Went to Spingarn HS (DC). Led the Goodman league in assists this season, a surprising and impressive change this high flying, offensivley aggressive guard.

Andrew ‘Spongebob’ Washington is headed to DC Odessa in the Ukraine. Was reportedly last year’s Syrian Player of the Year, Guard of the Year, and first team all league. Has worked on his shot by “Shooting 700-800 jumpers a day” and “doing a lot of stuff off the dribble”, in addition to “getting in shape”. Attended Dunbar HS (DC) but graduated from Friendly (MD), where he won a state championship.

‘Super Dave’ will likely play with the Harlem Globetrotters in 2010-2011. If that doesn’t come through, this forward will head back to South America.

Omar Weaver, formerly of Coolidge HS (DC) will ball in Austria this season. He is the 2010 Goodman scoring champ, with over 26 points a game from the swingman position.

Isaiah Swann, a Bethesda-Chevy Chase (MD)/Oak Hill Academy (Va) graduate that balled collegiately at FSU, is waiting for an invite to a NBA camp. If not, he's headed to Italy (possibly Spain). Averaged close to 20 points a game for Israeli League champion Gilboa last season.

Gary Neal, a B'More guy, has reportedly signed a three year deal with the San Antonio Spurs in June. Went to Calvert Hall HS, Lasalle Univ., then Towson in Baltimore. .