The Pre-GDB Era
Keltics and Bombers
2002 Keltics - Summer (Competitive)
The Keltics were a perennial contender in the competitive division of the City of Alexandria Basketball Men's League. Featuring a competitive and complimentary group of all around players, the Keltics stormed through the Summer League season and into the final game. Schedule conflicts led to an "Ironman" performance as the Keltics only had five players for the final. They were not to be denied on their way to the championship.
2003 Keltics - Winter (Competitive)
The Keltics continued their way through the Competitive division by parlaying their deep squad into another championship season in the following winter league. They were off to a slow start in the title tilt, falling down 14-2, but waves of reserves overwhelmed their opponent and led to the back to back titles for the Keltics. Unfortunately, players would go their separate ways and future iterations were never able to capture the glory days of 2002-03.
2004 BearingPoint Select - KPMG Invitational
In the spring of 2004, I found out about an annual tournament held at KPMG, the original company BearingPoint spun off from. Somehow I worked my way into a team that was going to head up from DC to New York City for the tournament. I think I only knew one or two of the guys, but we quickly came together over the course of three round robin games on the first day of the tournament, and then we ran the table in the knockout round on the second day to take home the tournament!
Green Dot Ballers I
The Missing Link Era
2011 Green Dot Ballers - Summer (Rec)
The GDB era was off to a successful, but frustrating start in the summer of 2010. GDB lost in overtime of the championship game after holding a 6 point lead in the last five minutes. They subsequently lost in the finals of the 2011 Winter league championship game on a controversial foul call on the next to last play of a one point loss to Foxchase. In 2011 Summer league, GDB found their "Missing Link" with the addition of E.J. Black. EJ would provide excellent guard play and composure in a season that would prove to be cathartic for GDB. An overtime loss in the second game was the only blemish. They avenged the championship game loss to Foxchase by sweeping both games against them that summer, including a semi-final win. A 20 point blowout over #1 seed GT Ballers, led by game MVP Chris Williams, gave the Green Dot crew their first championship.
2007 BearingPoint Bombers - Winter (Rec)
After the demise of the Keltics, the BearingPoint Bombers were founded in 2004. After an initial run in the competitive division, the Bombers found their home in the Rec Division. A regular season that featured just one loss to the #1 seeded Warriors, saw the Bombers go 10-1 entering the championship game with a chance to avenge that single loss. They would get that revenge and win the Bombers only title.
2013 Green Dot Ballers - Winter (Rec)
Green Dot Ballers II
The Colt Street Era
2016 Green Dot Ballers - Winter (Rec)
The Ballers franchise was forced to re-load the roster in their bid to repeat in 2014 after the free agent departures of most of the team. The new squad found themselves stuck on the precipice of additional glory. A championship game defeat in 2014 and a 2OT loss in the semi-finals in 2015 sent the Ballers soul searching. Guard Colt Street proved to be right ingredient to drive the next era of Baller championships. The GDB posted its best season in franchise history, going 11-1 and avenging their only loss in the championship game against the Joy Boys. Will "The Rock" Harris took home game MVP honors.
2018 Green Dot Ballers - Winter (Rec)
The 2018 season found the Ballers in another frustrating regular season with losses to the Joy Boys, G-Men, and, Grant Thornton, a team who went 10-0 during the regular season. GDB entered post-season as the #4 seed against the top ranked GT. However, the Ballers played a near flawless semi-final game to score the upset and send GT to their only loss of the season. Next it was on to the championship game, where yet another showdown with the Joy Boys awaited them. Another back and forth game went to the GDB squad as they demonstrated composure that eluded the Joy Boys. Mike Reamy swished home a game-high 20 points to take MVP and lead the Ballers to their fifth championship and third in three years.
2020 Green Dot Ballers - Winter (Rec)
2019 was a year of heart break and near misses. It kicked off with a chance to defend the winter league title that fell short in a last minute loss to the Durangos in the Championship game. Then after securing the #1 seed in summer league, GDB was upset in the semi-finals. To end the year, GDB faced off with old rivals Joy Boys in the Fall finale and after digging out of an early 15 point deficit, came all the way back to 1 point in the second half, but ultimately lost after one of the Ballers suffered an injury. In true GDB franchise fashion, they reloaded with new faces taking on key roles and rolled their way through the first half of the season, before pulling out a series of short handed victories over long time rivals, Durangos, G-Men and Joy Boys. A clean slate at 8-0 earned the title for the Ballers when the season was cut short by the global pandemic, but not before the Boys and Ballers would stage another classic game with furious rallies and a game that would go down to the last minute to ultimately decide the winner.
Green Dot Ballers III
A new Decade of Excellence
After an unsuccessful attempt in the Competitive division during the 2012 season, the Ballers had an up and down season upon their return to the rec division in 2013. They found themselves at 4-3 with two thirds of the season complete. A hot finish to the season secured the #3 seed in the 8 team post season tournament. The Ballers ran off 5 wins in a row highlighted by back to back 12 point wins in the quarterfinals and the semi-finals. GDB found themselves in the championship game against a #1 seed against which they had previously lost. Once again, they were not to be denied. Led by game MVP Chris Larson, the Ballers used a late run to fuel another 12 point victory for title #2.
2017 Green Dot Ballers - Fall (Rec)
The 2016 championship game launched a fierce rivalry between the Joy Boys and the Ballers. After losing that championship clash, the Joy Boys would get their revenge, in the Winter of 2017, with a semi-final victory on their way to the 2017 title. So the stage was set for another showdown in the inaugural Fall session of the Alexandria men's league. The Joy Boys struck first with a regular season victory and then seemed like they were about to win a second title in a row as they took a 5 point lead into the last minute of the championship showdown with GDB. The Ballers did not blink and with the help of a timeout and some clutch free throws by game MVP Colt Street. With the Ballers down three, Colt was fouled with no time left on the clock and calmly sank the three free throws to send the game to overtime. The Ballers would come out on top in OT and strike another blow in their rivalry.
2022 Green Dot Ballers - Summer (Rec)
2022 was the summer of joy for the Green Dot Ballers. The joy of being back on the court after 2+ years of sessions lost to the pandemic. The joy of playing (and beating!) the Joy Boys....and most of all, the joy of securing their SEVENTH championship. The Ballers navigated a travel absences, another round of COVID and a need to all up emergency players, just to field a team for the championship game. After a thrilling overtime win in the semifinals, the Ballers rode the outstanding performances of newcomers Cam Wade and Keonte Dennis to an upset victory. Game MVP Kyle Welty turned in an all-time performance with a franchise record 18 rebounds to go along with his 18 points. The game was never in doubt after the first 10 minutes as the Green Dot Ballers cruised home with title #7.
2019 was a year of heart break and near misses. It kicked off with a chance to defend the winter league title that fell short in a last minute loss to the Durangos in the Championship game. Then after securing the #1 seed in summer league, GDB was upset in the semi-finals. To end the year, GDB faced off with old rivals Joy Boys in the Fall finale and after digging out of an early 15 point deficit, came all the way back to 1 point in the second half, but ultimately lost after one of the Ballers suffered an injury. In true GDB franchise fashion, they reloaded with new faces taking on key roles and rolled their way through the first half of the season, before pulling out a series of short handed victories over long time rivals, Durangos, G-Men and Joy Boys. A clean slate at 8-0 earned the title for the Ballers when the season was cut short by the global pandemic, but not before the Boys and Ballers would stage another classic game with furious rallies and a game that would go down to the last minute to ultimately decide the winner.