Local faith-based team brings home national championship
Published 11:04 am Friday, March 15, 2024
Contributed Photo Members of the 2024 NACA Boys Basketball Invitational tournament are Blaine Cable, Mason Townsend, Colton Otto, Lawson Clark, Blake Delph, Willie Melendez, Brady Barron, Jarreion Isom, Conner Lacy, Mitchell Clark, Will Cable, David Murray, Luke Roark, Chandler Rowan, Alvin Toe, and Hunter Slagle. Coaches are Brian Cable and Dustin Clark.
Contributed Photo Members of the 2024 NACA Boys Basketball Invitational tournament are Blaine Cable, Mason Townsend, Colton Otto, Lawson Clark, Blake Delph, Willie Melendez, Brady Barron, Jarreion Isom, Conner Lacy, Mitchell Clark, Will Cable, David Murray, Luke Roark, Chandler Rowan, Alvin Toe, and Hunter Slagle. Coaches are Brian Cable and Dustin Clark.
Contributed Photo The IAM Ravens celebrate after receiving their championship trophy.
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STAR CORRESPONDENT
To win a state or national championship at any level of sports competition is a feat that many high-school aged athletes can only dream about.
However, those dreams do come true for some and if you don’t believe that just ask the players and coaches from the I.A.M. Ravens – a local faith-based team that uses their organization as a ministry.
The team recently captured the NACA National Basketball Championship – a four-day tournament with Christian-based teams from all over the United States playing against each other in different divisions in Dayton, Tennessee.
Founded in 2021, the Ravens mainly play homeschool leagues and private schools such as Providence Academy, Kachea, ACTS, and several teams from Virginia including Tennessee Avenue, Sullins Academy, and St. Annes and small public schools like Clinch and Twin Valley in North Carolina.
The team also played against Unaka High School in the past.
Players can come from any homeschool, public school, or private school. The current roster has homeschoolers as well as athletes from Science Hill, Daniel Boone, David Crockett, Tennessee High, and Living Education Academy in Johnson City.
In the championship game, the Ravens played Jefferson Christian Academy from Ripplemead VA. as the Ravens captured the win 67-48. The Ravens held only a two-point lead at the half before putting together a strong second half.
It was an emotional win for seniors Blaine Cable and Mitchell Clark as the two took home their first national championship. Clark was named to the All-Tournament team along with Conner Lacy.
“I’m so proud of these boys!,” said Coach Brian Cable. “The relationships they have built has played a big role in their success, once they had the chemistry on the court and trusting the end result to the Lord the rest was history. They deserve the NACA National Championship. All Glory to God!”
The team plans on making a return trip, but will be moving up a division which will not allow for defense of this year’s title.
