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By Ron Marvel

Star Correspondent

If you were to ask a kid first starting out in sports what the ultimate goal is, some would say win a Super Bowl or win a World Series, but near the top of every athlete’s list is to bring home a national championship. For two local IAM programs (Independent Athletic Ministries), those athletes can put a check in that box, as both the girls’ and boys’ high school teams came away from Dayton, Tenn., with a national championship banner in hand.

IAM is a nonprofit, Tri-Cities athletic program for kids who are in public school, private school, or who are homeschooled. Started four years ago with an aim to provide athletic opportunities for kids from all walks of life, our dedicated coaches not only teach kids lessons in sports but also teach them priceless principles on living from God’s word. Currently, the programs are under the umbrella of Big Spring Baptist Church, where the boys’ basketball coach, Brian Cable, serves as pastor. Four years ago, IAM started with three basketball coaches; they have since grown to five basketball coaches, four volleyball teams, a cheer squad, and, new this season, a girls’ softball team.

The local squads, also known as the Ravens, came away with a clean sweep in the tournament that featured more than 100 teams from Indiana, Texas, Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia. The teams stayed in a church camp-type environment and competed in a weeklong tournament for a national title.

The boys came to Dayton, Tenn., to defend their 2024 crown. They won their first game by 18 points and then faced off against a stout Jefferson Christian team out of Ripplemead, Va., and walked away with a 56-49 win. In the championship, they took on a talented Rocket City team out of Huntsville. They fell behind early but turned to seniors Will Cable, Brady Barron, Trey Miller, Blake Delph, Connor Mullins, and Alvin Toe, who provided needed experience and leadership in the second half.

The Ravens worked inside strong and hit their threes when needed. Going down the stretch, Toe hit five straight free throws to help seal the 70-59 win for the back-to-back champs. Reflecting on this season, Coach Cable shared what a blessing it’s all been.

“God truly is the one to thank for such a great opportunity and the success that our team has had for the last few seasons. We had a great team not only talent-wise but also great young men. I know they will all do great things in the future. I look forward to seeing what God does with our ministry in the future. Praying for a full-time facility, as that has been our biggest hurdle!”

Several of the players had received offers from local schools.

On the girls’ side, the Lady Ravens were hoping for an improvement over last season’s third-place finish. They first played Brunswick Christian Academy and came out on top 51-27. In the quarterfinals, the Lady Ravens got a rematch with last season’s division champs, the Birchwood Knights, and posted a 47-32 win, putting them in the championship game, where they faced off against the Rocket City Falcons.

The game was a see-saw defensive affair.

“I felt we kept a next-play mentality in the championship. It kept us focused, where we couldn’t think too long on past mistakes,” Lady Ravens head coach Lisa Rainey shared.

The Ravens did just enough to secure the 35-29 win and grab their own national championship banner.

“It was an emotional win and one I hope our only senior, Shayna Cook, will remember for a long time. It was a rewarding way to end an already successful season. This team was a joy to watch,” Coach Rainey explained.

For Coach Cable, this is more than just sports—it has become about ministry.

“The most important thing is that we have been able to reach thousands of families in the Tri-Cities area with the gospel of Christ.”