Coach Duck Earns his 100th Win as Head Coach
Feb 25, 2022 Updated Apr 4, 2022
ATLANTA — A Feb. 6 win by the Atlanta Aliens over Yessuh Bradenton in overtime with a final score of 178-170 gave Aliens head coach and general manager Alan “Coach Duck” Richards his 100th win as a head coach in the American Basketball Association.Richards said the 100th win is another black historical moment that occurred in a unique fashion.Coach Duck’s pro basketball career as a head coach began in 2011 with the new expansion team Atlanta Experience, where he led the team to a 10-1 record before the team folded. Since then, Coach Duck has spent the last 11 seasons at the helm for the Atlanta Aliens.
In 2017, Coach Duck and his wife Shalesia Richards became owners of the Aliens team. Shelesia operates as the CEO while Coach Duck continues his role as general manager and head coach.During his 11 years with the Aliens, Coach Duck has had only one losing season as a head coach (2020 due to COVID-19).The Aliens just completed a six- game road trip, winning the last four in a row. After losing to the seven-time ABA champions Jacksonville Giants and the ABA top-tier ranked North Alabama War Dogs, the Aliens upset #24 ranked Columbus Blackhawks followed by back-to-back wins in Florida against Pensacola Lightings and Yessuh Bradenton.Reaching the century mark could not have come in a better fashion.
The Aliens were down by 10 points to Yessuh Bradenton with 2:36 left in regulation but refused to give up. The Aliens increased their defensive pressure and forced turnovers to claw themselves back into the game by going on a 7-0 run. Down by 3 with .17 seconds remaining while still on defense, Aliens forced another defensive turnover and scored a layup on a 3D shot to tie the game. Yessuh Bradenton had the ball with .09 seconds remaining in the game but failed to score.In overtime, the Aliens scored first and never looked back to secure the win.”Reaching the century mark is indeed an honor but how we won was special,” Richards said.The Aliens were led by Tavin Cummings (51points), Chris Cromartie (39 points), Alex Bonner (30 points), Wynston Andrews (25 points), Keith Anderson (20 points), and Derrondell Jenkins (18 points).The team’s current goal is to win the ABA Championship.
The regular season for the Atlanta Aliens is coming to an end. The team’s next game is against #7 Ranked Baldwin County Hoopers out of Mobile, Alabama. The game will be played today at First United Methodist Church Enrichment Center and the admission is free!
