The Tacoma Tide Basketball Club Laces Up

Tacoma, Wash. - Last month MVP Physical Therapy expanded its Tacoma Tide sports umbrella with the addition of the Tacoma Tide Basketball Club, formerly the Tacoma Jazz minor league basketball team. Over the past four years, the Tacoma team has played competitively in the International Basketball League - totaling 37 wins and 47 losses.

In the Jazz's inaugural campaign in 2005, the team dominated its division with a solid 12-6 record. The 2005 team was led by all-star Dontay Harris, Jimmy Haywood, Lamar Morinia, and the floor general - Chris Hyppa. However, in the 2008 season the team ended up last in its division with a record of 9-13.

Over the past four years this ball club has had its coaching changes, player instability issues and management changes, but it seems this time the ball club is in good hands with new team ownership.

Team owner Patrick Garlock stood in front of 30 men at the first tryout at Stadium High School on March 21 and gave the men his philosophy and his standards. In the stands were veteran players and new players, but as far as the coaches were concerned everyone had to earn his spot.

Coaching in tandem this season are R. Jay Barsh and Mark A. Lovelady. Barsh was born and raised in Tacoma and serves as an assistant coach at Tacoma Community College as well. Lovelady is a middle school principal at Life Christian Academy and a boys' high school basketball head coach.

Fortunately, the Tide will have a strong core coming back for the 2009 season - namely 6'8" forward Jajuan Winesbery; 6'4" guard Mike Claxton; 6'5" forward-guard Marlon Bailey; 6'6" forward Lorenzo Rollins; 6'1" Forward-Guard Jameel Shareef; 6'6" forward Ike O'Hanson; and 6'1" guard, Chris Hyppa.

Having been on the original Tacoma IBL team, Winesbery already can see things are different with this ownership.

"As I was transitioning into the new year, I was contemplating whether or not I wanted to give another go at running with the ball club. I was approached by some local guys that I know, and they said that the owners of MVP were interested in ownership of the club. The ownership first and foremost was looking for men that displayed character and would be able to represent the community in a positive light. I have been a staple here in the community for a while, and I knew from the start that this leadership is all about integrity, character and how that would be reflected as we play on the basketball court. The new ownership structure and motto is already showing in full display in this gym," Winesbery says.

The Tacoma Tide Basketball club might not be well-known in every household at this moment. But Mike Jennings of MVP and team owner Garlock plan to focus on the community, believing that revamping the Tacoma basketball scene will be a ladder system for young athletes to connect up through the youth, AAU, high school, and even professional levels.