Neptunes Basketball Team Competes in Reno

By Tracey McCormick

Alameda’s sixth grade boys Neptunes basketball team traveled to Reno Nevada over Memorial Day weekend to compete in the 2012 Jam On It Reno Super Regional Qualifier. Nine hundred teams were placed into brackets in the world’s largest AAU basketball tournament. The team had hometown fans in the stands ready to cheer them on.

Alameda was well represented as the Neptunes played valiantly in four games over three days.

The boys played with no fear as they met up with teams that were larger, taller and faster. Coach Doug Eckard’s strategy of creating multiple turnover points in the Neptune’s favor led to the first victory. The Alameda fans were ecstatic.

After winning their first game, the Neptunes were then placed into the stronger Gold Division where the level of competition doubled. Our boys played larger-market teams but kept it very close and competitive the whole way through.

Each game presented new Neptune players stepping up and presenting themselves as the “go to” guy. Coach Eckard utilized his team well, with every player contributing on the court. The group played pure team basketball and strived to learn more each game, with every player scoring and providing tenactious defense throughout the games.

The Neptunes team injcluded Chris Regan, Chris Eckard, Kevork Hill, Alex Silva, Ryan Jawad, Kenan Hurem, Kendan Robinson, Jack McCormick and Ryan Cibull.