Elmore Park puts 65-game unbeaten streak to test at TMSAA Final Four
by: Colin Cody
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The word dominant is one way to describe the Elmore Park Middle School boys’ basketball team, but it doesn’t do justice to what they’ve accomplished the last two seasons as they’ve won 65 games in a row.
” To have won 65 games in a row is something special,” said Eagles head coach Chris Chiozza.
” It’s something that I’ve never seen or experienced before and I’ve been around this game for quite a while now”.
The Eagles are also the two-time reigning sectional municipal, regional, and Memphis Athletic Ministries champions.
” They came in and didn’t care who scored. They just wanted to win and you can tell about the way they play and practice. It’s all about winning for this group”, said Chiozza.
” It’s been good and just been doing it since sixth grade. It’s gotten pretty easy, so we’re just going to keep doing what we do there,” said eighth grader Kylan Craft.
The team’s last loss was two years ago when the majority of the group were only sixth graders. Chiozza says that loss lit a fire underneath his team.
” The thing I learned was to like be a leader and motivate my teammates when they’re down,” said eighth grader Donavin Okoth.
” I’ve developed a lot since I was in the sixth grade, but it’s been a fun two years two playing with them,” said Pierce Washington.
The boys are hoping to pick up two more wins to repeat as state champs.
” We’re taking it one game at a time and playing hard,” said eighth grader Matthew Manuel
“We have a target on our back, so we just got to communicate on the court,” said Braylon Williams.
Win or lose this weekend, the memories that they’re making are something they’ll cherish for a very long time.
” They probably don’t understand how special this group has been, but I think as they move on in life and sports and they look back on this experience, it’s going to be something that they cherish for the rest of their life,” said Chiozza.
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