On Monday, 25 April 2016, Kevin Douglas (#4) led the Hawks to a 71 - 61 victory over the Bama Tru Ballers.  It was a good game from the beginning to the end.  The Bama Tru Ballers entered the gym on a high after defeating the Kingdom Ballers on Saturday, 23 April.  The Ballers acquired (#23) Navaro Davis, from the Nets, who scored 27 against the Kingdom Ballers and 21 on Monday against the Hawks.  Davis' 21 was not enough to get the Tru Ballers over the flight of the Hawks.

     The first half ended with both teams tied at 35 points.  The Hawks committed one team foul and the Bama Tru Ballers committed three.  Kevin Douglas scored 12 first half points and (#0) Mike Smith added eight points.  Navaro Davis gave the Bama Tru Ballers 13 points with Alaster Anderson (#42) adding 10 and David Hardge (#41) contributing seven points.  As the game progressed, I was highly impressed with both teams' unselfishness to pass the ball to the open player.  Layups became the achilles heal for the Bama Tru Ballers.

     The second half was an extension of the first half.  Both teams continued to play unselfish basketball, but missing layups and 3-point attempts would separate the two teams.  The Hawks' Earnest Adams (#34), Mike Smith (#0), and Roderick Williams (#25) assumed the responsibility to secure the backboard for inside scoring and rebounds.  Adams scored 13 game points, Smith scored 11, and Williams scored 10.  David Hardge (#41) and Alaster Anderson (#42) gave the Bama Tru Ballers 11 points and 12 points, respectively.

     With basketball transitioning to 3-point basketball, I watched both teams shoot poorly from 3-point range without ever considering to take two steps forward to possibly make an easier 2-point shot.  The Hawks made 4 of 18 from 3-point range and the Bama Tru Ballers edged them out with 6 of 17.  The Hawks outscored the Ballers 36 - 26 to seal the game 71 - 61.  This was an exciting battle.  I look forward to their next meeting.

     The scorers for the Hawks were:  #4 Kevin Douglas with 26 points, #23 Yohance Thompson with 6, #34 Ernest Adams with 13, #0 Mike Smith with 11, #25 Rod Williams with 10, and #3 Eddie Holzclaw with 5 points.

     The scorers for the Bama Tru Ballers were:  #23 Navaro Davis with 21 points, #2 Demon Walker with 6, #1 Demetrius Jordan with 3, #15 Jeffery Lemon with 2, #32 Alphonzo Jukes with 6, #41 David Hardge with 11, and #42 Alaster Anderson with 12 points.