A battle is raging between the Kingdom Ballers and the Bama Tru Ballers.  The Kingdom Ballers have been in the NOSBL since 2009 and the Bama Tru Ballers are in their second season and the battle for the "True Ballers" is heating up.  Both teams have made significant improvements and are being recognized by coaches, players, and fans.  The Bama Tru Ballers defeated the Kingdom Ballers in their first matchup 62 - 52 on 23 April 2016 and repeated their performance with a 60 - 54 victory on 31 May 2016.  The Bama Tru Ballers have defeated their last four opponents by an average of 20 points while holding them below 60.  That is the strongest margin of victory, for four consecutive games, than any other team in the NOSBL.  I mentioned, in previous commentaries, that the Bama Tru Ballers have discovered a formula to winning and I got to see that formula in action on 23 June 2016 at North Highland Assembly of God's Church Gymnasium.  The Bama Tru Ballers and Kingdom Ballers reported with their players fired up and ready to attack.

The starting five for the Bama Tru Ballers were: #15 Demon Walker, #8 Jeffery Lemon, #23 Alphonzo Jukes, #00 Cleotis Brown, and #13 Navarro Davis.  The starting five for the Kingdom Ballers were: #24 Tony Campbell, #81 Christopher Mathis, #0 Willie Tennyson, #11 Wason Davis, and #96 Shederal Hughes.

The game started with the Kingdom Ballers', Willie Tennyson, winning the tip off and the battle was on.  The Kingdom Ballers opened with 2-points and the Bama Tru Ballers followed up with 3-points.  Cleotis Brown (#00) and Navarro Davis (#13) were leading the Bama Tru Ballers and Shederal Hughes (#96) and Willie Tennyson (#0) were leading the Kingdom Ballers.  An early foul, by the Kingdom Ballers, sent the Bama Tru Ballers to the line to score on three shots to tie the game at eight.  The score was tied, again, at 10 before the Kingdom Ballers took a brief lead at 12.  The Bama Tru Ballers weren't having it and tied the game at 17 and and took the lead at 19.  Both teams would trade baskets, with Bama, maintaining an edge until the Kingdom Ballers tied the game - for the third time of the first half - at 36.  The Bama Tru Ballers would go on a 6 - 0 run to end the first half with a 42 - 36 lead over the Kingdom Ballers.  Cleotis Brown (#00) led the Bama Tru Ballers with 14 points and Navarro Davis (#13) added 12 points.  Six other Bama Ballers scored.  Shederal Hughes (#96) led the Kingdom Ballers with 16 points and Willie Tennyson (#0) added 12 points.  Two additional Kingdom Ballers scored.  The Kingdom Ballers committed six team fouls that produced seven point for the Bama Tru Ballers.  The Bama Tru Ballers committed two team fouls that produced two points for the Kingdom Ballers.

I wanted to see how both teams would enter the second half.  I wanted to see the Bama Tru Ballers' "formula" and I wanted to see if the Kingdom Ballers would reach 60 points.  I received my answer to both internal thoughts.  The Kingdom Ballers started the second half on an 11 - 5 run to tie the game at 47.  With 13:14 remaining in the game, the Bama Tru Ballers had built a 9-point lead (56 - 47).  With 9:55 left, the Bama Tru Ballers extended their lead to 64 - 52.  I began to wonder if the Kingdom Ballers would become the fifth victim to fall prey to Bama's second beat down and the answer was No Way!!  The Kingdom Ballers began to score and cut the lead to five (69 - 64) with 6:04 remaining in the game.  With 12.1 seconds remaining, the Kingdom Ballers had reached 72 points as they trailed the Bama Tru Ballers by two.  Both teams were making their final push with seconds remaining in the game.  The Kingdom Ballers tied the score, at 74, with two free throws that left 4.1 seconds remaining on the clock.  The Bama Tru Ballers inbounded the ball and a swift pass was made to an open David Hardge (#96) under the basket who scored two points at the buzzer to sweep the Kingdom Ballers during the regular season.  The Bama Tru Ballers defeated the Kingdom Ballers 76 - 74.  The Bama Tru Ballers committed seven team fouls and the Kingdom Ballers committed six team fouls.  Cleotis Brown led the Bama Tru Ballers with 19 second half points.  The team scored on six 3-pointers.  The Kingdom Ballers', Tony Campbell (#24) caught fire and scored 20 points with 9 points from Willie Tennyson and Shederal Hughes, each. 

The Bama Tru Ballers' scorers were:  #00 Cleotis Brown with 33 points, #13 Navarro Davis with 12 points, #23 Alphonzo Jukes with 6 points, #32 Tony Moses with 6 points, #44 Chris Watson with 5 points, #96 David Hardge with 5 points, #5 Alester Anderson with 4 points, #15 Demon Walker with 3 points, and #8 Jeffery Lemon with 2 points. 

The Kingdom Ballers' scorers were:  #24 Tony Campbell with 25 points, #96 Shederal Hughes with 24 points, #0 Willie Tennyson with 21 points, and #81 Christopher Mathis with 4 points.

This is my assessment of the Bama Tru Ballers' "Formula":  FAITH, TRUST, CONFIDENCE, AND TEAM.  They have Faith - a true belief - that each person/player will do their best to contribute.  They Trust each other and accept constructive criticism.  The Team makes each player feel the Confidence to play well.