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Runnin Rebels Men's Basketball Team

Alexandria City Adult League Team 2002

The team began play, in the Tuesday night division of the Alexandria men’s adult basketball league, in January of 2002. Since this season was the first for the team, it took a few weeks for the players to come together as a cohesive unit. After winning the first three games, things were looking very good.

However, the team fell behind early against the number 2 team in the division Boat U.S.A., a Trade Association in Alexandria. With two 20-minute halves and running time, a fifteen-point deficit is almost insurmountable. The team fought back and got within a point or two with a minute left. In a perverse way that game was the turning point in the season. By losing to a team, which the RUNNIN’ REBELS team felt that they should have beaten, the players felt that from that point on they were going to play harder and more focused. The team went on to win all the next 5 out of 6 games. The team ended the season with an 8-2 record beating the previously undefeated Bomb Squad not once, but twice in back to back games to take the regular season title.

RUNNIN’ REBELS were seeded number one in the end of season tournament. The first round tournament game was won relatively easily over the number 4 seed from the Monday night division. As fate would have it, RUNNIN’ REBELS faced the Bomb Squad again since they had won in their bracket to advance to the Semifinals. The semifinal games were played at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria.

(Top picture, team members cheer for players on the floor..bottom picture, Lamon Hamilton steals a pass and takes it down court on a fastbreak)

The Bomb Squad walked into the gym looking angry and determined. The Bomb Squad has played together for years operating with a sixth sense when running back door cuts, setting screens and hitting the open man. They are the “Princeton U” of the men’s basketball league. This was the third times these two fine teams would meet in a span of less than 10 days with the bitter memory that RUNNIN’ REBELS not only knocked them out of first place in the regular season, but could also send the Bomb Squad packing for the season. This was an all or nothing game for both teams.

Clearly, the RUNNIN’ REBELS were not to be denied. At the beginning of the season when the team was being formed and had initial practices there was an informal poll taken. The question was should the goal be to be have a little exercise or should the goal be to work hard and win a championship. The decision was unanimous they wanted a championship.

The team agreed that the only strategy to beat The Bomb Squad three straight times and stop their (4) excellent 3 point shooters, was to go all out and full court press them. The full court press worked great from the outset forcing turnovers in the backcourt. The RUNNIN’ REBELS ran up a 10 nothing lead within the first few minutes of the game. But the Bomb Squad found a wide-open man for a 3 pointer and of course he knocked it down. That 3 pointer sparked the otherwise lifeless Bomb Squad and they fought back. As the RUNNIN’ REBELS patiently worked it inside for high percentage shots and continued to pressure the ball full court, the Bomb Squad miraculously stayed in the game with 3 pointers, getting free off of picks and screens. At half time the RUNNIN’ REBELS were ahead by 10 points. Since the Bomb Squad made 9 points in less than a minute with 3 three pointers in the previous game, the RUNNIN’ REBELS knew that that lead was not enough to assure victory. Sure enough the Bomb Squad made a run early in the second half to narrow it to four points. However, thanks to a relentless pressure full court defense and a 100 percent effort by each player eventually the fatigue factor took the legs out of the Bomb Squad allowing the RUNNIN’ REBELS to win and advance to the Championship game at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia 4/3/02 at 7:00 PM

When asked how he felt after winning the regular season championship, Lamon Hamilton the RUNNIN’ REBELS team captain said “The greatest thing about this win and the previous four wins, was that the players including myself have put the team’s goals first and placed their personal goals last”

On April 3, 2002 the Runnin' Rebels played the ASCD team in the championship game at T.C. Williams High School. The first half was hard fought by both teams. The Runnin' Rebels had a 10 point lead. The Runnin' Rebels continued the full court man pressure they ran in the first half. With strong guard play and very consistant inside play, the Runnin' Rebels won the championship by 20. The Runnin' Rebels finished the season with 13 wins and only 2 losses.

Team members in Picture of Runnin Rebels:

Kneeling left Keith Barnes (right) Lamon Hamilton
Coach Mike Fitzmaurice in suit
Back row left to right
Mike Johnson, Sean Fitzmaurice, Rickie Smith, Corey Beasley, Ryan Sands, Kevin Johnson, Charlie Brown ( not in pic) Frank Minor, Ronnie Eblon

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