Boys’ Basketball Team Wins National Title

Not all of the champions returning to California from the South this week are Olympians--at least not yet.

On Saturday 11 young men from Southern California, including two from the San Fernando Valley, captured the Youth Basketball of America Championship for 9- and 10-year-olds in Orlando, Fla.

The local 11, who qualified for the finals by beating other regional California teams, went undefeated against opponents from Michigan, Texas, Arkansas, Maryland, Louisiana, Florida and West Virginia to claim the title in the weeklong tournament.

“We were really proud to represent California,” said Greg Briest, 10, of Encino, a forward on the team. “We had a really good team and we’re all good friends, so it was a lot fun. We also got to go to Disney World.”

The players’ parents accompanied them to Orlando. The boys and their families received financial support for the trip from local business people and radio host Rick Dees.

The boys also participated in instructional and motivational sessions with former Lakers Happy Hairston and James Worthy, as well as Jerry West.

“These kids are very skilled and very disciplined for their age,” said head coach Richard Goldberg, a former high school coach who runs the nonprofit American Round Ball Corp.

“But more than just basketball, they’ve shown terrific camaraderie and friendship,” Goldberg said.

Ten-year-old Marcus Everett of Woodland Hills, who hopes to play college and professional basketball someday, said the secret to the team’s success was cooperation.

“We have good coaches and we work hard and play together as a team,” Marcus said. “That’s why we always do so good.”