Sandhills Machine Basketball 2024 (SMB2024) (16U) competed in the Big Time Hoops National Championships hosted at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center from June 30 through July 3.
Coach Cash Sutton, a native of South Philadelphia, was welcomed home, and his relatives and friends made the team feel just as welcomed as they captured a record ninth national championship in five years.
The core group has been together since they were 10 years old. They pushed through the adversity of several mediocre seasons with records of 1-30 and 3-28 before hitting the mark with their first state and national championships in 2017.
SMB2024 got off to a fast start defeating Team Hines, 73-55, with great defensive contributions from the entire team with a combined 15 steals.
Next up, SMB2024 had the opportunity to double up P-City Shooters, 64-32, as they smothered them with their man-to-man defense and a game-high of 13 assists.
Then came PrimeTime Performance, the team that provided the wake-up call by defeating SMB2024, 68-55, in a long drag-out bump and run game even though Salah Sutton wasn’t playing due to concussion protocol.
The entire South Philly neighborhood turned out to cheer on their extended nephews or SUN-Sons as referred to by Cash because they shine so bright.
After the lesson, Shaquille Gaskins, a South Philadelphia high school stand-out and former EURO League player, spoke with the team to provide some words of encouragement as he also stated, “Playing like that, your 15U can beat 16U.”
Up next, SMB2024, 52-51, knocked off an Adidas circuit team, Castle Athletic 3SSB, who featured some top talent (standing 6’10, 6’7, and 6’5) and arguably the second-best team in the tournament. It was a back and forth game with Jaylen Sturdivant and Jeremiah Melvin hitting crucial three-point baskets to maintain the lead.
Malachy White (five assists) was the floor general who led the charge attacking the basket for layups or free throw opportunities along with Jullien Cole, Azir Gillespie, and Chase Evans. They would not have won if not for the defensive prowls of Jaylin Morgan, Mekhai Coleman, and Chase Evans.
For the championship game, SMB2024 captured the win over Kali Elite (FABO), 54-44. Jaylen Sturdivant was relentless on the boards finishing with 12-rebounds and was unstoppable on the offensive end along with Jeremiah Melvin, Jullien Cole, Azir Gillespie, and Chase Evans. The team was very efficient with the ball with a tournament-low of two turnovers.
SLT2025, left to right: Roderick Daniels, Darius Breeden, Gabriel Thompson, Elijah Melton, Kameron White, Raymond Knotts, Treyzaun McLeod, Savion Jackson, and Taveon Harris (Not in photo: Head Coach Ricky Baldwin, Tyler Newcomb, Dakota Bender, Josiah Jacobs, and Will Miller).
Sandhills Machine SeLecT 2025 (SLT2025) (15U) welcomed their new head coach Ricky Baldwin with a bang as they competed at the tournament and did well finishing with a 3-1 record, and one win away from a national championship appearance.
SLT2025 dominated out the gate with a 71-39 victory over P-City Shooters as Elijah Melvin (11-rebounds) slam-dunked every ball he caught within two feet of the basket. Great guard play from Kameron White, Taveon Harris (four steals), and Savion Jackson led to a team-high of 14- assists. Raymond Knotts pulled down seven rebounds which led to numerous fastbreak opportunities.
Game two was a learning lesson with SLT2025 coming up short to Explosion Basketball, 69-59, with too many missed opportunities that led to a game-high of 17 turnovers. However, the bright spots were Elijah Melvin’s continued dominance with seven rebounds, six steals, and three blocks, Raymond Knotts’ eight rebounds, Savion Jackson’s three steals, Kameron White’s three steals, and a game-high total of 15-steals.
SLT2025 would bounce back and get their legs under them in the next contest finishing with a hard-fought 66-59 win over Each One Teach One MD – Butts. The game was led by the elite scoring of Kameron White who finished at the rim with all kinds of highlight reel-type layups that looked unimaginable. Taveon Harris and Treyzaun McLeod’s perimeter defense, along with Elijah Melvin and Raymond Knotts’ ability to control the paint, was a sight to see.
SLT2025’s final competition would come against a team that the day before scored 97 points in 32 minutes of play with a running clock. Pure Pressure Products 15U had all the lights and all the cameras, and they were straight action until they ran into SLT2025 who easily handed them defeat by a score of 67-54. Defense was the key to this win as SLT2025 applied pressure from the jump ball to the final buzzer. Elijah, Raymond, Taveon, and Kameron were literally unstoppable on offense.
During July 12 – 17, both 15U and 16U Sandhills Machine teams will battle to be crowned the US Open champions, an event hosted by USA Basketball, Jr NBA, and Nike in Westfield, Indiana at the Pacers Athletic Center.
“Special thanks to all those who make it possible; Sandhills Machine’s coaches, volunteers, members and parents, First Bank, Blendz Barbershop, Sandhills Community College, Our Military Kids, Walmart, Mrs. Kimberly Sutton, Mr. Richard Mandell, silent donors, and Moore County Unrestricted Endowment Fund a component of the North Carolina Community Foundation (NCCF), we thank you all,” said Sandhills Machine President Cash Sutton.
Feature Photo: SMB2024; left to right: Head Coach Cash Sutton, Malachy White, Jaylin Morgan, Azir Gillespie, Robert Tatem, Jaylen Sturdivant, Jeremiah Melvin, Jullien Cole, Mekhai Colemen, Leon LeCompte, Chase Evans, Salah Sutton, and Coach Leo LeCompte (Not in photo: Brandon Graham and Nehemiah McDonald).
Courtesy photos/Contributed.
