Ballers turn back Stars to start summer

Summer session brings new teams, players and configurations into the mix. The Green Dot Ballers got back to work for the summer against the newest entry into the City of Alexandria basketball league - the Lance "Chick" Armstrong All Stars. The team was named in honor of the new moniker bestowed upon the former Cora Kelly Rec Center and features a young collection of talent out to make a name for themselves in the city of Alexandria. The GDB also features some new blood, with the likes of rookies Logan Seacrist, Ike Okonkwo and Andrew Latrash, as well as, Chris Harris, who recently signed a full time contract with GDB after a call up during the winter session.

Ike Okonkwo (#9) hits the three over the outstretched Stars defender to cap an 11-4 run in the first half.

Chris Larson exploits the paint on the first of many drives for the Ballers.

The Stars proved a feisty bunch constantly challenging the 8 time champs to raise their game. After an initial feeling out period to start the game, the Ballers used a series of back door cuts, inbounds sets and dribble drives to take advantage of overzealous pressure applied by the wing defenders. An Ike Okonkwo three pointer capped off an 11-4 run to put the Ballers up 22-11. Ed Reddick proved too much for the Stars to handle registering 14 first half points on a series of drives and fast break baskets. A Chris Harris score off yet another successful inbounds play at the halftime buzzer gave the Ballers their biggest lead of the game 36-24.

Chris Harris scores at the buzzer to give the Ballers a 36-24 halftime lead.

After regrouping at half-time, the young Stars team stepped up to the challenge and ran off a 10-0 run to start the second half, before Mike Reamy answered with an eight point streak of his own. The GDB sharpshooter sandwiched threes in opposite corners around a fast break basket to restore the lead back to 10 points. A rusty performance at the free throw line (5-15) was the only thing that prevented the Ballers from pulling away for good. The Stars hung around and found themselves down 5 with the ball and two minutes remaining, but could not execute down the stretch and GDB turned those turnovers into easy scores to put the game away 52-42.

Co-Captain Mike Reamy plays an individual game of "Around the World" during an 8-0 run to fend off the Stars.

GDB will have a busy week next week with games against two long time rivals, G-Men on Tuesday and Self-Check on Thursday. A successful week would position the Ballers for a bye past the quarterfinals round of the playoffs.

GDB starts the summer with a win.

Game highlights to kickoff the summer session.