WS Chronicle

The summer league basketball games in cooperation with the skills and drills camp at the Carl H. Russell Sr. Community Center has helped the youth work on their games all summer.  To showcase their skills in front of family and friends, the center held its All-Star game for the 10-13 age group on Friday, Aug. 4, along with giving away school supplies and backpacks to prepare the students for the upcoming school year.

The teams were divided into an East versus West format similar to the NBA All-Star game.  The West jumped on the East early with an 8-0 lead and looked to set the tone early.  The East fought back and kept the game close throughout the first half.  At the half the West held a slim 15-9 lead.

The East came out of the half on fire from three-point range.  They were able to tie the game up at 20.  The game continued to be a close one well into the second half.  With less than 15 seconds in the game, the East tied the game up at 30.  With one last chance, the West hurried the ball down the court and threw up a wild shot and off the rebound a West player heaved a last second three-pointer that went in to win the game 33-30.

“It wasn’t just one player, all of the players played effective and we came out with the victory,” said West head coach Brittany Ward.  “I think it was a great opportunity to guide players from other teams that have seen me coach and lead them to the win.  I’m very proud of my team.”

Fareed Rahmaan, head coach of the East team, said, “I think my team played well.  These All-Star games are for fun and my team competed really hard.  We lost a tough one but we fought all the way until the end.  Toward the end of the game, I told them it wasn’t over and continue to fight.  We sped the game up and they started turning the ball over, which gave us the opportunity to get back into the game, unfortunately we came up just short.”

Along with having the All-Star game, the community center also gave away free lunches and school supplies for the kids.  Parents and children from all over the surrounding neighborhoods poured into Carl Russell to take advantage of this opportunity.

Ben Piggott, Carl H. Russell director, said the All-Star game was like a “carrot” to get the parents in the door to receive the school supplies for the kids.

“I feel like the kids were really excited because their parents were there,” said Piggott.  “They had a good time and enjoyed themselves and something like this is good for the community.  You see it’s jam packed with people so I think it was very successful on that end.”

“You have people from all across the city in this line,” Piggott continued.  “I think what we are looking at now is showing kids that education is important.  I am so happy for our sponsors to give back to us with their hard earned time and effort.”

Piggott said he wanted to thank his many sponsors for giving their donations and money in the back to school giveaway, including the Winston-Salem Recreation and Parks Department, Swing Phi Swing Social Fellowship Inc., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., Carl H. Russell Sr. Community Center staff, Jerry Thornton, Carl H. Russell Sittercise Class, Skills and Drills Clinic, Jovon Scipio and family and Joyce Dobson.