The Crybaby delivers competitive platform
By Robert Alfonso Jr.
ATLANTA, GA – More than 90 teams ascended near downtown to participate in The Crybaby tournament last week. While the tournament name is descriptive about someone consistently shedding tears, this event is not for the weak at heart.
This inaugural tournament pushes teams to the limit while some 25 other teams were left on the outside waiting to get in the mix. It was a competitive weekend from opening night to championship Sunday. There was live sideline play-by-play and a lot of moxie throughout the weekend.
The Crybaby had some of the regions and Southeast’s best teams. Former NBA player Doug Christie stopped in to see the competition along with Ty Young. Every championship game was filled with intense action.
This year’s Crybaby drew some interest form several other current and former WNBA players.
One of those teams was Totality. They came in as the defending AAU National champions as fifth graders. This Peach state team is the brainchild of Antwonette Coates. She is behind the growth and success of this Atlanta based organization. It has grown exponentially over the last three seasons. Her organization has become the target or the envy of other organizations not only for what Totality has built off the court but for the success on the hardwood.
| Big Babies | |||
| Grade | Champions | Second place | MVP |
| Fourth | Queen City 23 | Wood Elite 22 | Kemoni Hardy |
| Fifth | Team Soar 43 | Cincy Lady Future 37 | Anslee Dunn |
| Sixth | Queen City 57 | Totality 32 | Janiya Cunningham |
| Seventh | Queen City 53 | FBC Blitz 30 | Jaida McClure |
| Eighth | AOT 41 | FBC Blitz 36 | Myiah Holmes |
| JV | AOT 57 | Pistols 44 | Tianna Thompson |
| Varsity Girls | FBC Black 63 | Nite Nite 52 | Aaliyah Hunt |
| Crybaby Team | ||
| Coach | Robert Reynolds | Queen City Ballers |
| Grade | Player | Team |
| Fourth | Selah Gayle | Blitz |
| Sofia Horata | Blitz | |
| Taylor Khodabakirsh | Wood Elite | |
| Makenna Taylor | Wood Elite | |
| Fifth | Anslee Dunn | Team Soar |
| Bella Horton | Team Soar | |
| Eriana Thomas | Cincy Future | |
| Dakhari Blankamsee | Cincy Future | |
| Ryleigh Taren Martin | Cincy Future | |
| Sixth | Trenity Armstrong | Cincy Future |
| Janiya Cunningham | Queen City Ballers | |
| London Smith | Totality | |
| Kennedy Cooper | TKO | |
| Olivia Loveday | East Tennessee Thunder | |
| Maya Perry | TKO | |
| Seventh | Makayla Roberson | FBC Blitz |
| Gianna Rogers | FBC Blitz | |
| Jaida McClure | Queen City Ballers | |
| Eighth | Milanni Salaam | FBC Blitz |
| Kayla Cleveland | FBC Blitz | |
| Bailey Tidwell | 865 Elite | |
| JV Girls | Brelan Sieveking | DL Impact |
| Nya Young | AOT | |
| Gabbie Groomes | OTC Celtics | |
| Tianna Thompson | AOT | |
| Justus Fitzgerald | FBC Black | |
| Myangel Carter | LSA | |
| Cameria Reed | FBC Black | |
| Varsity Girls | Shannon Niles | Nite Nite |
| Kennedy Harp | FBC Black | |
| Laniya Kenon | Nite Nite | |
| Aaliyah Hunt | FBC Black | |
| Haleigh Cephus | Nite Nite | |
| Chesnee Freeman | DL Impact | |
| Kyla Cain | FBC Black | |
| Simone Lett | OTC Celtics | |
| Cayla Cowart | FBC Black |
About the Author
Alfonso
Robert Alfonso Jr. is a graduate of Mount Sait Mary College. He has more than 20 years of journalism experience. Alfonso has helped build a basketball web brand in Georgia and has covered high school through college sports for publications in New York, North Carolina, and Georgia. His mission has always been to uplift the athletes who play sports providing them the exposure needed in this new media platform.