Franklin 9-and-10-year-old All-Stars win National Title

KENNER _ Franklin’s Biddy Basketball 9-and-10-year-old All-Stars recently captured the 2014 National Biddy Tournament Championship here Tuesday at the Mike Muley Gym.
Franklin All-Stars are: Trey Do; Braden Loustalot; Kanye Caesar; Terron Ballet; Jamichael Gray; Johnny Clark; Willis Jenkins; Brennan Chatman; Bryson Colbert; Devone Robinson and Irving Lumpkin III. Coaches are Byron Chatman, Jeremy Morris, Glenn Madison and Johnny Clark.
Franklin earned back-to-back victories over Slidell to capture the history-making 2014 National Biddy Title on Tuesday. Franklin’s Biddy 9-and-10-year-old All-Stars in the past have collected a second and third place finish but it was this year’s squad which brought home the first-ever Nationals title.
“It’s a great feeling to know we were able to accomplish something that had never been done before,” Franklin Coach Byron Chatman said. “It’s a great feeling the kids will remember for the rest of their lives and I thank the coaching staff, the players and the parents and thank God for the history making event.”
Franklin’s journey to the top began with a Nationals-opening victory over the Centerville All-Stars in the semifinals. Franklin eyed the Slidell All-Stars in a double elimination battle with Franklin surviving in the opener winning by a score of 37-34, forcing a second contest set to tip-off exactly 30 minutes after the first game ended.
Franklin _ a fourth-place qualifier from the Regional Tournament _ welcomed the opportunity to face off against Slidell for the second time with the National Championship on the line. Franklin quickly assumed control and turned in a history making victory by capturing the 2014 National Biddy Title with an identical 37-34 triumph.
Franklin opened tournament play with several character building losses to highly-touted New Orleans, Slidell, Kenner and Dallas before saving its best effort for the Nationals bracket. Franklin quickly flexed its muscles to five consecutive victories, gaining finals wins over Slidell. Franklin caught fire in the opening round of the Nationals brackets by pinning a 45-28 loss on St. John. Franklin went on to defeat Dallas by a 38-31 score before knocking off Centerville to gain a spot in the finals.
The Franklin All-Stars continued their hot streak by twice beating the Slidell All-Stars to hoist the 2014 National Biddy 9-and-10 All-Stars Tournament Trophy. Franklin knocked off Slidell in the first contest before gaining it second straight victory en route to winning the 2014 title.
“It’s an honor to take these kids to a level to see what a team effort is all about,” Chatman replied. “These kids grasped a life lesson in learning what team work is all about. They learned that team work is not about one person but the life lesson that was learned was what can be accomplished when working together as a team.”