Perry Leisure Services celebrates district champions, state tournament qualifiers

Perry Leisure Services’ recreational basketball season has come to a close and there is much worth celebrating for athletic supervisor Albert Crumbley.

Four All-Star teams won their respective district championships and five of the six teams qualified for the state tournament.

Both 8U teams won the Georgia Recreation and Park Association District 6 Class B championships. The boys competed in an eight-team tournament in Perry, the girls won out against four teams in Tucker, Georgia.

The 10U girls captured the Middle Georgia Regional Championship in Fort Valley and the 10U boys captured their district championship.

The 12U girls also secured their district championship in Tucker before moving on to Fort Valley to win the MGRC.

Perry’s current population is estimated to be 26,000, roughly a 20% increase from 2020 and almost double from 2010.

With the boom in residents comes more participation in these recreation programs, which Crumbley has seen first hand.

“It’s definitely growing. For a long time we were doing the girls division [ages] nine through 12 just so we could have enough teams to play,” Crumbley said. “Now they’re all separated which means they can function on their own…and there’s just as many teams in each one of those [age groups] than it was when it was [combined].”

8U boys roster: Tucker Asbell, Tyrell Bascom, Kentavious Carswell, Hollis Craig, Brooks Devoursney, M’Khi Felton, Chancellor Hayward, Ladarren Olivera, Rashod Reid and Alexander Yance III. Coached by Rontrell Howard, Eric Devoursney and head coach Allen Graham.

8U girls roster: Norah Cox, Caroline Floyd, Justice Gaston, Kiley Harris, Nola Knowles, Leah Lukehart, Kehlani Stewart, Audrey Walker, Layla Ward and Bella Williams. Coached by Pansy Bryant, Stacy Askew and Justin Gaston.

10U girls roster: Olivia Boron, McKenzie Dixon, Morgan Green, Kyleigh Green, Kimber Hill, Madison Huddleston, Kinsley Johnson, Chloe McKenzie, Averie Peace, Sloane Slater and Ava Wright. Coached by Amy Dixon, Les Wright and head coach Earndrez Dixon.

10U boys roster: Jace Allen, Graham Bell-Adkison, Alexis Brooks, Ean Graham, Zierre Hill, Corey Montford, Aiden Powell, Jaquan Robinson, Lyndon Wagnon and Odell Young. Coached by Jadaybron Stripling, Lee Crozier and head coach Jared Adkison.

12U girls roster: Skylar Brownlee, Cali Duncan, Hadley Elking, Paisley Johnson, Maggie Newby, Addison Pearce, Zoey Pope, Londyn Scott, Amelia St. Clair, Aliyah Terry, Brielle Williams, Alayna Wooten and Jayniya Valentine. Coached by Erika Newberry, Y’vette Brown, Andra Jackson and head coach Albert Crumbley.