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Lightning returns with new owners and coach, same goal

By MICHAEL BOYLAN
mboylan@TheCitizenNews.com

Last Friday, members of the World Basketball Association gathered at Peachtree City City Hall to announce and introduce the new owners and coach of the Southern Crescent Lightning. The team won the WBA Championship last year and the new owners, brothers and Peachtree City residents T.J. and Todd Hannon, and coach Ricky Benitez vowed to bring back the title this season.

The WBA is a development league and their goal is to prepare athletes for a possible entrance into the NBA or other basketball leagues including the ABA, CBA or international play. Though only one player from the league made the NBA this season, the Lightning’s assistant coach last year, Travis Williams, is now a head coach for Fort Valley State University. The roster for the team will not be announced until after the league’s annual draft but Todd Hannon is hoping to sign several players from last year’s squad.

This will be the second season of play for the WBA and founder Leroy McMath stated that the league is heading in the right direction.

“In the first year of a new league, everybody counts you out,” said McMath. ‘We surprised everybody.”

In addition to hearing from McMath and former NBA player and head coach of the Macon Blaze Wes Matthews, Mike “Stinger” Glenn, the WBA commissioner addressed the crowd stating that the players and teams were expected to become a part of the community and have a positive impact. The Hannons are expecting that too, promising to get a larger part of the community interested in the team this year and vowing to not take a salary. Instead, proceeds will go directly back into the community with local high schools and youth programs receiving money. The Hannon’s goal is to get between 1,500 and 1,700 fans in the stands at each home game and they expect to hit those numbers by getting the community to rally around the team.

Coach Benitez exhibits the same type of passion for the team and the community. Last season, Benitez coached the Jackson Rage and though he has large shoes to fill, he is looking forward to the opportunity.

“ I am up to the challenge and we will bring the championship back here,” said Benitez. The Lightning will be working out numerous athletes leading up to the draft. A roster is expected to be announced in early April and the first home game is April 22 at 7 p.m. against the Carolina Heat. All games will be played at Starr’s Mill High School.