SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) – The ’413 Elite’ professional basketball team took on the ‘518 Ballers’ in an exciting game at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Sunday.
The special game honored first responders, celebrating their bravery and dedication to the community.
Fans got to see a special ceremony recognizing the contributions of local first responders as well as some high-level basketball being played.
We spoke with the owner and CEO of ’413 Elite’ Charles Evans, who told us how much the game means to him, “Man this means a lot to me,” Evans explains.
“Me being a kid from Springfield Mass, born and raised growing up in the inner city and actually playing in every street league out here for me to be able to bring this back and allow the kids in the neighborhood, the kids and the youth, the city to actually come experience a professional basketball team live and direct here in the birthplace of basketball is huge for me,” he added.
We also spoke with 413 Elite’s head coach, Spank Brown who said being the head coach is like a dream come true, “I’m 60 years old and getting this coaching job right here is like a dream to me makes me feel younger I was psyched when I was called to coach the team and I’m very thrilled about it yeah very thrilled about it,” he adds.
413 will be back in action on November 9th when they take on the Bridgeport Kings.
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