Behind bleachers, from left: Kim Varner, Assistant Public Defender Brandon Rover, APD Jordan Beard, Baby Beard, APD Emily Beard and Troy Farquhar.
Top row from left: Terri Chipperfield, Homicide Director Al Chipperfield, Chief Assistant Lewis Buzzell, County Director Tricia Rover, APD Deb Billard, Division Chief Melina Buncome, APD Austen Kane and volunteer Gennady Gusak.
Middle row: Sara Chipperfield, Teddy Foster (Defenders), Circuit Director Owen Schmidt, Paralegal Leigh Viola, APD Adam Beaugh, Division Chief Dee Stresing, league sponsor Katie Kelley, Division Chief Brooke Brewer and Zach Brewer.
Bottom row: Defenders Morgan Orender, Peter Venuti, Joshua Beard, Jose Musa, Art Stresing, Jon Lorimier, Jonathan Thacher and Logan Chipperfield.
Floor: Adam Schemer (Defenders)
By Art Stresing, Young Lawyers Section Basketball League chair
In a showdown between two 5-1 titans, the Defenders were able to complete the first three-peat championship in Jacksonville Bar Association Young Lawyers Section Basketball League history after a rough start when they lost their first game of the season.
In a tightly contested game to end the season that went into overtime, the Defenders (sponsored by Dogwood Park) pulled out the victory over Pajcic & Pajcic with a 46-37 final score.
Garth Cheek helped get Pajcic off to a hot start when they led by as much as 10 points at halftime. Powered by the best fans in the world, the Defenders were able to overcome Pajcic’s tough defense and persevered against one of their biggest rivals.
Jon “Big Shot Baltimore” Thacher lived up to his name by sending the game into overtime with a game-tying three-pointer, and then secured the victory in overtime.
In the third-place game, Farah & Farah narrowly defeated the Free Agents.
The season was sponsored by StretchJax at 416 Third St. S. in Jacksonville Beach.
The next league season is approaching, so if you’re looking to get into the action and get some good cardio, sign up now for our fun and competitive league.
If you are interested or have any questions, contact Art Stresing at [email protected], John Weedon at [email protected] or Kayla Haines at [email protected].
Art Stresing is an assistant public defender with the 4th Judicial Circuit Office of the Public Defender.