B-ball players visit Friendship House
Published 11:35 am Friday, July 13, 2012
Former Bainbridge High School Bearcats basketball players took a break from head coach Rickey McCullough’s youth basketball camp at the Bainbridge-Decatur County YMCA on Wednesday, in order to instruct youngsters at the Friendship House of Jesus.
The Friendship House is a local youth outreach program.
Point guard Marquis Williams, shooting guard James Lodman and center and forward Antroine Williford, who helped lead coach McCullough’s 2009 Bearcats’ run to the State Class AAAA Basketball Final 4, were among the former Bearcats taking part in the instruction.
Also interacting with the youngsters were former Bearcats Devin Baulkman, who plays at Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, Fla., and Trea Kelly, who will be playing at Columbus State University.
Williams, Lodman and Williford’s 2009 Bearcats went 27-4 and lost to a strong Tucker team by just five points in the opening game of the Final 4.
Williams was a first team All-State cornerback in football and an honorable mention All-State guard in basketball.
“This is great,” said Josh Paske, administrative director of the Friendship House, as he watched the enjoyment the youngsters were having unteracting with the basketball players. “Most of these kids want to grow up and play basketball for Bainbridge High School and this is a big thrill for them.
“I’m so glad to see these guys come back to the Friendship House and serve these younger kids. It was a great opportunity for these high school and college role models to use their influence in a positive way.”