LAS VEGAS, Nev. –
The South Texas Regulators Select basketball team, a team based out of the San Antonio area comprised of boys whose parents are currently serving in the military or retired from the services, won the 16U Bigfoot Hoops Las Vegas Classic in Nevada July 30. The Regulators defeated the IE Aces Select from California, 59-58, to claim the crown.
The Regulators are unique in that all the coaches and staff are volunteers and also retired or active duty military. The organization has been in existence for seven years and the turnover rate for athletes and coaches is very high due to parents answering the call of duty. Despite the frequent changes, this is the organizations fourth regional/national tournament championship.
Team members include Jalen Barner, Josh Butler, Ya’Monie Crawford, Aiden Harripaul, Darren Hudson, Ethan Mahoney, Devin Oden, Warner Owens, Kahliq Paulette, Chris Smith and Nick Tucker. The team is coached by head coach and Regulators founder E. Jamal Barner. Assistant coaches are Julian Crawford, Harold Patterson and Chris Smith. The team manager and cofounder is Rhonda Barner.
The Bigfoot Hoops 16U pool play started with 194 competitive teams from the United States and overseas during the five-day tournament. During games two and three of the championship bracket, the Regulators showed physical and mental toughness by coming back to win both games with seconds left on the clock.
In game two, Ya’Monie Crawford, a student at Robert G. Cole High School at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, knocked down a three-point shot with two seconds remaining on the clock to advance the Regulators to the championship game.
During the third and final game, Nick Tucker, also a Cole High School student, drove the length of the floor in four seconds and made a contested layup with no time left on the clock, resulting in a 59-58 victory and championship for the Regulators.
“The boys played their hearts out,” Jamal said. “I had so many emotions that I can’t even explain it. A team of military brats from the San Antonio area went to Las Vegas and brought the trophy back to Texas. The boys worked hard all year and things finally came together during the tournament.
“Our motto is “Mount Up” and the boys definitely displayed teamwork during those close games. It was a total organization effort, the coach said. “Players, coaches, parents and team moms should all be proud to say they belong to a special organization like the South Texas Regulators.”
For more information about the South Texas Regulators, go to http://www.southtexasregulators.com or call 210-325-9032.