Flying to a 3-peat
Published 10:10 am Thursday, April 19, 2018
Prince Edward Eagles player Vincent Marsh Jr. drives forward with the ball during championship game of the Heartland Conference in the Medford Basketball League. His teammate, Kevin St. John Jr. follows in the background. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Nicholas Branch gets ready to launch a shot. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Cornal Greene Jr., No. 1, looks to lay the ball up as Brenda Allen, No. 12, looks on. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Prince Edward’s Keyera Palmer looks for opportunities on offense during the conference title game April 12. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
Prince Edward County High School student coach Jalil Robinson closely tracks the Eagles' performance during the conference title game April 12. (Photo by Titus Mohler)
The Prince Edward Eagles won the Heartland Conference of the Medford Basketball League (MBL) for the third consecutive year April 12 at Amelia County High School.
To clinch the championship, the Eagles defeated Fluvanna 38-27 in the title game. Prince Edward reached the final after edging Nelson 23-17 to open its run in the conference tournament.
Prince Edward County High School Special Education Teacher Sandee Draper helped organize the Heartland Conference of the MBL. In a previous interview, she noted, “The primary purpose of the Medford Basketball League is to allow students with intellectual disabilities, autism, multiple disabilities and developmental delays opportunities to play in a competitive team sport like their non-disabled peers, to promote school spirit and to offer inclusive practices for our students with these disabilities.”
The Eagles, which represent Prince Edward County High School, finished the 2018 MBL season with an overall record of 10-2 after going 8-2 during the regular season.
“The kids have so much fun, and they really have learned a lot about playing on a team and the rules of basketball,” Draper said. “And actually, the neatest thing to see is our student coaches. They take it very seriously, and they love working with the students. They come to me at the beginning of the year, and they ask if they can be a coach …”
The 2018 student coaches included Jalil Robinson, Jarmal Joyner and Miles Pride.
