The Lady Mambas are pictured (right to left) coach Derrik Haithcock, Karis Hudson, La’Niah Smith, Aurora Stringfield, Lyrric Hanson, Jayla Haithcock, Madalyn Easter, Hayden Rideout, McKenzie West and Jayden Hatfield.
Submitted photo
The Lady Mambas, a southern Ohio AAU girls basketball team, represented Ohio at the 2024 National Basketball Teammate Championship Tournament in Rock Hill, South Carolina and came away with a national championship.
The tournament started with pool play June 20-22, where the Lady Mambas won 39-12 over the PAL Stars 2029. The Lady Mambas also defeated the North Raleigh Lady Vipers 43-33 and in the last pool play game against Team Legacy Elite (NC) they won 57-41 to finish 3-0 in pool play, landing a bye for bracket play on June 23.
In the bracket play semifinals the Lady Mambas beat the WV Wild (WV), 52-39, and in the finals they defeated the Upstate Sting (SC), 41-39, to win the seventh grade tournament national championship.
The Lady Mambas finished the season with an overall record of 24-4. Along the way they won four other championships including at Teammate Basketball in Portsmouth, March Madness in Kingdom/Landmark and Champs @ Ballin at the Creek in Beavercreek.
Lady Mambas coach Derrik Haithcock, Sr., said the team would like to thank every who supported the team this year. The team also competed in Knoxville, Tennessee in 2023 and won its first world championship.
Submitted by Derrik Haithcock, Sr.
