Shooters Repeats in the Goodman League!

Ron Bailey, Publisher

Shooters repeats as Barry Farms League champs. Teamwork was it's ethos.

September 3, 2009 – Last night, the Shooters team did something only done four times in Goodman League (also known as the Barry Farms League, as it’s based in that Southeast community) history; went back to back, winning a championship over consecutive years. That’s impressive, considering the league has been in existence, either as the Barry Farms or Goodman League since 1977 (the summertime event officially donned the Goodman name in ’96).

Members of Shooters pose after their win.

For the record, Goodman or ‘The Farms’ is without question the best place to see professional-level, summertime hoops action in the Nation’s Capital. When you go “inside the gates” as the league’s founder, director, and emcee frequently says, anybody from the National Basketball Association’s Kevin Durant and Gilbert Arenas, to international pros like Trey Kelly and Brian Chase could be suited up. All four of these standouts did play this year.

Anthony ‘Wing’ Davidson, Goodman’s videographer for six seasons who has authored a number of hot selling DVDs chronicling the event, and counts himself a league “observer for 10 years”, was very impressed with Shooters’ second consecutive league title: “I think everyone wants to win the Goodman; it's bragging rights in this city and to win back to back is major. Everyone whose anybody plays down here and to be the best two years straight is big”.

Adding to Shooter’s impressive feat was the way they achieved it, sweeping previously undefeated Sweat Mob in a best of three game series, 104-91 and 97-73. The team’s leading scorer and reigning Goodman League MVP, Andrew ‘Spongebob’ Washington, after winning the chip noted of Shooter’s accomplishment “I feel good, just very, very excited for my team. We stuck together for two years…There are not stars on our team”.

Spongebob, here in Game 1, is a load going to the cup.

Shooter’s quest to repeat started Tuesday night, with Spongebob scoring a game high 37 points, and former University of Maryland standout Byron Mouton contributing 25. Early on that duo buoyed the team, leading them to a 49-42 halftime lead.

The squad’s coach, Lavelle Patterson, was not happy during intermission, telling his team “On offense we need to share the ball more, (have) less one on one”. Defensively, he confided to this writer “We are going to have to pressure the ball more, and we are going to do that”.

Sweat Mob's Sweatsuit Barnett from deep during Game 2.

Driving that assertion was Sweat Mob being without Durant, who couldn’t participate due to a Nike promotional commitment in China. Furthermore, only five of the team’s members showed up to play.

Bill ‘Sweatsuit’ Barnett was present though, and came out in the second stanza guns blazing – he hit numerous three pointers, as well as drove to the cup, finishing with 36 points. Durant’s younger brother, Tony poured in 18 points.

Patterson, who afterward said of his team “we stepped up our intensity in the second half”, along with everyone else in attendance knew Sweat Mob would be buttressed by some roster additions for their do or die, Game Two on Wednesday; roster fluidity is one of the defining characteristics of summer league hoops. Sure enough, Tre Kelley (now headed Poland’s Curow franchise) appeared ready for action the next day, along with others like ex-Georgetown standouts Nat Burton and Anthony Perry. Where on Tuesday they had no reserves, Sweat Mob enjoyed a full contingent Wednesday.

As the saying goes, ‘The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry’, which held true for Sweat Mob as with 10 minutes to go in what would be the series’ final contest, Shooters led 39-20. The team’s momentum continued, despite 32 points from Kelly along with Sweatsuit’s 17. At times it was apparent Sweat Mob still couldn’t adjust for the loss of Kevin Durant - not surprising as he averaged around 45 points a game this summer - and many of the new bodies seemed to negatively impact team chemistry on both sides of the floor.

Shooters' players dap each other and coach Lavelle Patterson (24) up afterward.

The key players in Shooter’s title grabbing victory were Mouton – the forward dropped 25 points, many in the crucial first half – and ex-Virginia Tech guard Eric Brahnam, who over the course of 30 points was virtually unstoppable. Brahnam, or ‘E’ as he’s known, repeatedly drove and shot successfully, including pulling up for fast break three pointers, shots that seemed to take the life out Sweat Mob.

“I’m not worried about who’s on the other team” said Brahnam during a break in the action. “I’m a veteran, and just come out and play”.

That he did, along with his Shooter’s mates, all of whom deserve congratulations for going back-to-back. It’s something that rarely happens inside the gates or in any high level basketball competition.

Be sure to check back next week for Goodman League All-Star teams and award recipients. And all those interested in purchasing a DVD copy of this game, or others in the past, like Durant vs. Arenas or All-Star compilations, email Wing Davidson at iamwingsworld@yahoo.com. If you couldn't be there, its the next best thing.

See you in the gates next year.