photo by Marcus Frazier

Above, 6-year-old Jaquan Wilson rushes toward the goal as he is guarded by his older sister Taylor, 10, and brother Julian, 9, Saturday afternoon. The Dart found the trio playing basketball along with their siblings and cousins in front of their residence on Camellia Drive in Vidalia.

Cousins enjoy a friendly basketball game

By Vershal Hogan (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Monday, August 25, 2008

VIDALIA — When The Dart landed near Camellia Drive, it found the Wilson siblings and their cousins in the middle of a fierce driveway basketball competition.

The oldest by far at 16, Torrey Dixon said he likes to play against his younger cousins — who all play league basketball — to help them become better athletes.

But just as he was saying that he often goes easy on the younger players, Julius Wilson, 11, piped up.

“I like pressure,” he said.

At that, Dixon grinned.

“He runs his mouth too much, so I go harder on him,” he said. “I chomp down.”

And with that, the competition, part skill, part acrobatics and all motion, got under way.

As the younger players, Julius, Taylor Wilson, 10, Juliae Wilson, 9, Brandon Vantree, 9 and Jaquan Wilson, 6, played, Dixon shouted out advice while they darted and spun around each other.

During a break in play, Taylor — the lone girl — said she liked playing with the boys.

“I think I’m better (than them),” she said.

But the surprise standout of the game was Jaquan, who at 6 was half the size of the rest of the players.

Dribbling, darting and then shooting the ball, everyone cheered for his shot after it sank into the net with a swish.

Family friend Eric Bell Jr., said he wasn’t surprised at all to see Jaquan play so confidently.

“He is always out back shooting baskets by himself at his grandmother’s house,” Bell said.

Like most games of driveway basketball, it was not without its setbacks.

Tree branches too close to the basket deflected more than one shot, and one blocked pass sent the ball rocketing into a window, which withstood the impact.

Finally, the game came to a stop when the ball rolled off of someone’s foot and headed toward the house.

Torrey yelled for someone to grab it.

“If the ball goes under the house, one of you is going to have to get it,” he said.