By Matt High, Athletics Program Coordinator

The recreational basketball program started the season in January and concluded on March 25, 2010 with the city’s teams bringing home two championships.  The basketball program consisted of (2) under-8 teams, (2) under-11 teams, and (2) under-14 teams that competed in the North Miami/Sunny Isles Beach Basketball League.  In all, the league consisted of 17 teams from the City of North Miami, the City of Sunny Isles Beach, and Surf/Bal/Bay PAL.

The SIB Hurricanes under-11 ended the regular season with 12 wins and 2 losses and entered the tournament as the second seeded team.  The first two rounds of the playoffs they cruised to easy victories.  The championship game, which was played at North Miami Senior High School, was a thriller.  SIB Hurricanes were playing the Surf/Bal/Bay PAL team that had won the previous two games and handed the teams its only losses for the season.  The game started off slow with tough defensive stands on both sides.  The score at half-time was 0-0.  Our team regrouped at half, made some changes, called new plays and came out in the second half on fire.  The SIB Hurricanes scored the first 6 points.  The Surf/Bal/Bay PAL came back and tied the game with 7 minutes left in regulation and it was back and forth from there.  The game ended 12-10 in the SIB Hurricanes favor winning the first ever championship in basketball.  Coach Harris and the Hurricanes did a wonderful job.

Also, the SIB Warriors, under-14, had a fantastic season also winning 10 games and losing 2.  They entered the playoffs ranked first in their division.  The championship game started with a lot of baskets being made with the Warriors taking a 17-4 lead over Ben Franklin Lakers.  In the second half, the Warriors started off slowly and turned the ball over several times allowing the Ben Franklin Lakers to get back in the game and taking the lead with 5 minutes left in regulation.  Each team traded baskets making it a thrilling finish to the game.  With about 90 seconds left, the Warriors pulled ahead winning another championship for the city with the final score of 24-20.  Coach Marvin Bradley and the Warriors had a very successful season.

The recreational basketball teams have played in the North Miami/Sunny Isles Beach League for the past 5 years.  This year we brought home two championships which is a testament of the hard work, dedication, and desire to get better each year.  The coaches have worked very hard to get the basketball program to the next level.  Again, congratulations to all the participants and coaches for a wonderful season.