The Myrtle Beach-Socastee Men's Alumni Game didn't exactly go the way the Seahawks had hoped.
At least the ending score didn't.
However, organizer and Seahawks captain and alum Akeem Hemingway was really pleased with every aspect of the event.
"I really didn't expect it to be that big. I really didn't," Hemingway said. "I was really surprised about [the turnout], the way they came out to support it. It's for the people so we're going to keep doing it."
The competition level was high, and perhaps that shouldn't have been surprising considering it's Socastee and Myrtle Beach.
"It's Myrtle Beach and Socastee. That you can't deny. It's a rivalry and if you're Socastee you want to beat Myrtle Beach. If you're Myrtle Beach you want to beat Socastee," Seahawks alum and overseas veteran Trello Galloway said. "And I think it gave the community something to look forward to, something to do. A couple people asked me 'are you going to do it again, are you going to do it next year? You going to keep doing it?' The key to me is it gives younger kids who have graduated high school and are going to college more motivation to keep themselves going. You see these guys 15 years later, they're still in shape, they can still play. It gives you motivation and something to do. Come off the streets, come watch a good game. This is what basketball USED to be like. This is what this rivalry USED to be like. Because this generation can't tell it like we had it. It's a little different now."
Cleveland Cavaliers player Ramon Sessions surprised many by shedding his coaching duties to play in the second half. That was never a confirmed plan, but Sessions just couldn't stay off the court, especially with it being such a good cause.
So why did have a jersey underneath his white shirt?
"To support Akeem. He's trying to do a lot of great things out in the community and I felt like, you know, I was the coach the first half and if I came out and played in the second half it would kind of give people something more to talk about, something to look forward to in the next year," Sessions said. "I just wanted to get out and run around a little bit, test the hernia out. That's the first time I've played 5-on-5 since the [NBA] season. So it was good to get out there with the old faces. It's always good when you play against Socastee with that rivalry. The fans were good for it. I just wanted to get out there and mess around a little bit."
He didn't mess around enough, as Socastee won by double digits. However, it was quite a reunion.
Sessions, Hemingway, Galloway, Armistead. The D'Antonis, Alvin Green, the Derricks. Both sides had great turnouts.
"The D'Antoni boys surprised me. Me and Nick always had a great relationship. That's my boy. All those guys are my boys," Galloway said. "I went through a spurt about two years where I was in Socastee almost every day, in the gym. It was fun, man. It was probably the most fun I've had playing basketball in the past 10 years. Just that rivalry, that competition and it was great sportsmanship. You could tell everybody got along. It was just great. It's bigger than the game itself. Of course, they won and I have to hear about it every second of the day from Derrick Hilton, Derrick Robinson, Alvin [Green] and those guys. And I saw the score posted on Facebook. I didn't expect it to be as big as it is. We lolly gagged along, but please let it be know that it'll never happen again. We definitely will [get them next year]."
In fact, Hemingway said the plans are for it to be a yearly event. And he has other events planned after hosting his own basketball camp for the last two years and also a men's tournament that featured former and current NBA players. He's far from finished.
"I've got a few things up my sleeve," Hemingway said. "I don't want to say it too soon, but I've got some things in the works."
The rumor was that Sessions would/wouldn't play the week before, depending on who you asked. Hemingway himself was surprised his cousin suited up.
"I didn't think he was going to play. I thought he was just going to coach and then he came off the bench and played," Hemingway said. "Ramon wants part of the event. He's one of those guys where he's never too big. He wants to help give back to the community."
The community certainly turned out. The stands were packed - on both sides of the gym.
"It was a pretty good turnout. I'm excited about it. I'm looking forward to continue doing it," Hemingway said. "We're going to try to keep it going every year back and forth with Myrtle Beach and Socastee. I want to come up with something kind of like the Conway-Myrtle Beach football rivalry with the Victory Bell and do something of that caliber."
Sessions, an accomplished NBA player, was impressed with his competition.
"I knew most the guys from Myrtle Beach could still play, but Socastee still has guys - Alvin, Ray Ray - those guys still looking like they were in their high school days," he said.
Hemingway said overall the event was a huge success, but don't expect Myrtle Beach to be satisfied after this friendly.
"We're going to be more prepared [next year]. We can't come out and go out like we did, so expect to see that bad of a showing anymore. I guarantee you that," he said.
What else could you expect from one of the biggest rivalries in the area? This is why we all couldn't stay away. Can't wait until next year.
Comments