The New York Gauchos won the second annual I Got You Middle School Basketball League championship. Elmer Anderson, an assistant basketball coach at Brooklyn’s Boys & Girls High School, coordinated and founded the program.
As it did in the initial 20-team league, the league finals drew rave reviews. The games, throughout their two-month duration, saw over 10,000 fans attend, including parents, community followers, alumni and so many more who came out to support Anderson and the program.
The second addition of league play saw New Heights, the Brooklyn Badgers, the New York Gauchos and New York Lightning reach the Final Four.
When it came down to crunch time, it was New Heights beating the Brooklyn Badgers 56-51 in a hotly contested game that saw the Lightning moving on to the title game against the New York Gauchos, who advanced with their 70-53 win over the New York Lightning.
In the championship game, the New York Gauchos prevailed, running hard to a 80-71 championship win over the Lightning. Mark Martin (Gauchos) was named the I Got You Middle School Basketball League Most Valuable Player after scoring 21 points in the title game. Marques Drakesford copped Sportsmanship honors, netting 20 points in a losing title game effort.
So a big shout-out to coach Anderson, the coaches, players, friends and family members who supported the league and their favorites. It was a great community event.