The City Reapers won back-to-back Overtime Elite championships with an exciting 71-68 win over RWE in Game 5 of the Finals on March 17 at OTE Arena in Atlanta. The league full of boys prep basketball stars featured Kentucky commits Somto Cyril and Karter Knox, Auburn commit Jahki Howard, Missouri commit Peyton Marshall, Georgia Tech commits Darrion Sutton and Jaedan Mustaf, Georgia State commit Jason Jackson, and Daquan Davis, who is currently undecided between Georgia Tech and Florida State.
Overtime Elite presents basketball in a way never seen before. Members of the popular online collective AMP (Any Mean Possible) comment on every game on the sidelines for the broadcasts while “Voice of Atlanta Basketball” Bria Janelle shouts out the action in an interactive fashion on the floor.
Overtime Tom conducts live in-game interviews with players, coaches and referees with a camera in his glasses — it’s a facet of the game Houston Rockets rookie Tari Eason has joked with OTE alum and current rookie teammate Amen Thompson about.
Yelling into a mic in the middle of a basketball game is odee. This why I be telling Amen he just did not play serious basketball🤣🤣 https://t.co/lSsLal3Een
— Tari Eason (@TAR13ASON) March 17, 2024
Unique presentation and in-game entertainment aside, Game 5 was a darn good basketball game.
They’ll be back. pic.twitter.com/0SOUhyPP4l
— Overtime Elite (@OvertimeElite) March 18, 2024
After said game, rolling out spoke to Reapers coach Doug Martin.
Coach, how do you feel?
I feel great, man. Just be able to finish this off with these guys … I’m truly proud of all these guys.
A long time ago, back in September, we struggled in the preseason … I asked the guys, “Do you want to be great in September or do you want to be great on March 17?” They decided to be great on March 17 — and here we are, man. OTE Champs.
What did this repeat championship mean for the program after losing the Thompson twins?
They left a legacy, so it’s our job to protect that legacy. It’s our job to continue that legacy. Shout out to [former City Reapers head] Coach [Dave] Leitao. All the guys who were City Reapers last year.
One thing I want these guys to really understand is once a City Reaper, always a City Reaper.
You all were down 2-1 in this series and even held off a late run today against RWE. How resilient is this team?
Mentally tough.
I think I had the toughest team. These guys have seen everything. I’ve challenged them. They put their own challenges in front of them sometimes so it’s been it’s been remarkable, and I’m so happy for those guys.
What was the atmosphere like today in a winner-take-all situation?
This is awesome. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into at the beginning of this. But man, I love it. This has been remarkable.
