This past Saturday the ECBL playoffs concluded with the DC Heat winning the 2024 ECBL Championship knocking off the defending champions the Carolina Thunder. The game was played at the University of District of Columbia in front of 250 fans who consisted mostly of Heat Fans.
The game started off rough for the Carolina Thunder while the DC Heat weren't able to miss a shot. The Thunder shot 28% from the field and 0-10 from the three whereas the Heat shot 54% from the field and hit 38% of their three-pointers as they took an early 32-16 lead at the end of the 1st quarter. The Thunder improved in the 2nd quarter out scoring the home team 30-29 but still were down 46-61 at the half, most people that follow the ECBL and the Thunder all knew that you can't ever count the Thunder out and they would make a run in the second half.
The halftime leader for the Heat's performance was Tariq Felderfd (6'5''-F/G, college: Nova CC), hitting 9 of 10 shots from the field, grabbing 9 rebounds, and doing anything he wanted in the paint. Imrie Worley (6'2''-G, college: Barton, NC) was also a key contributor for the Heat knocking down 4 three pointers in the 1st half from the field. The Thunder were struggling from the three point line with Titus Gary III (5'10''-SG-1995, college: St.Andrews), Demetrius Knox (5'8''-PG-1998, college: Morris), and Scheraun King (6'3''-G-1987, college: Albany St.) combining to go 5 for 25, but James Richardson (6'2''-G-1994, college: SC State) and Leroy Williams II (6'6''-F-1988) II combined for 23 of the teams 46 points.
The Thunder made two great runs in the second half cutting the lead to 5 in the third led by Demetrius Knox who had 10 points in the quarter, after another run seemed to push the game out of reach the THunder again made a huge run behind 8 straight points from Titus Gary III and with a chance to tie the game at 90 a Gary three pointed just rimmed out. At this point it seemed the 1st half shooting problems resurfaced for the Thunder and two time Tabetha Berry Memorial MVP Khory Moore (6'0''-PG, college: VWU) made a huge impact down the stretch knocking down two three pointers including a step back three to push the lead back up to 11 with just three minutes remaining. The next three minutes the Heat were able to knock down FT's to seal the game and earn their 1st ECBL Championship.
Tariq Felderfd only took 5 shots in the second half hitting 3 of them, but his impact on both ends of the court and his scoring in the 1st led him to being named the Championship Games MVP finishing with 30 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists, and great defense on some of the Thunders interior players. James Richardson led the Thunder with 27 points to go along with 9 rebounds, and 5 blocks and his effort was key to his team's fight to continue to make runs to get back into the game.

Heat Top Performers - Imrie Worley 12pts, Khory Moore 22pts 8ast 8rbs, Myles Lewis (6'5''-G/F-1999, college: McNeese St.) 14pts 8rbs, Tariq Felderfd 30pts 13rbs 6ast, Elijah Willis 13pts
Thunder Top Performers - James Richardson 27pts 9rbs 5blks, Titus Gary III 12pts, Demetrius Knox 14pts, Leroy Williams II 16pts 13rbs, Scheraun King 14pts, Patrell Rodgers 10pts

Finals MVP: Tariq Felder (6'5''-G) of DC Heat
All-Star Game MVP: Khory Moore (6'0''-PG) of DC Heat
Player of The Year: Elijah Moore (6'8''-F-1995) of Petersburg C.
Guard of Year: Khory Moore (6'0''-PG) of DC Heat
Forward of Year: Elijah Moore (6'8''-F-1995) of Petersburg C.
Center of Year: Tavon Mealy (6'3''-C-1995) of Petersburg C.
Sixth Man of Year: Tavon Mealy (6'3''-C-1995) of Petersburg C.
Defensive Player of Year: Christopher Wray (6'7''-F-1994) of Charlotte T.
Rookie of the Year: Mayne Maybin (6'6''-F) of LF WebDogs
Coach of the Year: William McLaughlin of DC Heat

First Team
Chris Moore (6'2''-G-1986) of PT Players
Khory Moore (6'0''-PG) of DC Heat
Elijah Moore (6'8''-F-1995) of Petersburg C.
Joseph Battle (6'3''-G-1998) of SCU Redhawks
Tavon Mealy (6'3''-C-1995) of Petersburg C.

Second Team
Bryan Calloway (6'0''-PG-1989) of Fayetteville P.
Avery Patterson (6'3''-SG-1996) of RC Bulls
Montrell Williams (6'5''-F-1992) of CRL C.Lions
Isiah Cureton (6'5''-F) of PT Players
NiQuan Cousins (6'4''-G-1998) of Winston-Salem W.

USBasket.com All-ECBL Third Team 2024

Brooks

Hughes

Hilton

Wray

Alston

Third Team
E'Mandi Brooks (6'6''-F) of LF WebDogs
Mike Hughes (6'2''-SG-1996) of Winston-Salem W.
Keyon Hilton (6'3''-G-1993) of CRL Crusaders
Christopher Wray (6'7''-F-1994) of Charlotte T.
Isaiah Alston (6'3''-SG) of CC Lions

USBasket.com All-ECBL Honorable Mention 2024

Felderfd

Parks

Rutherford

Vinson

Couvson

Rogers

Williams II

Chambers

Petty

Tshiona

Honorable Mention
Marion Williams (6'0''-PG) of St.Thomas, TX
Tariq Felder (6'5''-G) of DC Heat
Emilio Parks (6'6''-F-1993) of Charlotte T.
Donald Rutherford (6'8''-F-1987) of RC Bulls
Eli Smith (6'3''-SG) of Gastonia S.
Warren Vinson (5'11''-PG) of Gastonia S.
Michael Couvson (6'3''-G) of GC Magic
Patrell Rogers (6'2''-G-1995) of CRL Thunder
Leroy Williams II (6'6''-F-1988) of CRL Thunder
Mike Chambers (6'2''-G) of Winston-Salem W.
Wiyle Petty (6'5''-F-1979) of SCU Redhawks
Victor Tshiona (6'8''-F) of Kingdom L.
Mayne Maybin (6'6''-F) of LF WebDogs
Lebrone Woodburry (6'4''-F-1999) of Z*CE Pirates
Tyrell Oglesby (6'0''-PG) of LF WebDogs

USBasket.com ECBL All-Rookie Team 2024

Brooks

Maybin

Oglesby

Jabbie

Hines

All-Rookie Team
E'Mandi Brooks (6'6''-F) of LF WebDogs
Mayne Maybin (6'6''-F) of LF WebDogs
Tyrell Oglesby (6'0''-PG) of LF WebDogs
Khalil Jabbie (6'0''-PG) of DC Heat
Jordan Hines (6'3''-F) of CRL Crusaders

USBasket.com ECBL All-Defensive Team 2024

Wray

Maybin

Calloway

Farley

Williams

All-Defensive Team
Christopher Wray (6'7''-F-1994) of Charlotte T.
Mayne Maybin (6'6''-F) of LF WebDogs
Bryan Calloway (6'0''-PG-1989) of Fayetteville P.
Kerigan Farley (6'2''-G-1995) of PT Players
Montrell Williams (6'5''-F-1992) of CRL C.Lions