DFW defeats Philadelphia Belles in Boo Williams Nike Invitational

The Boo Williams Nike Invitational is one of the toughest club basketball tournaments on the circuit. Winning the gold bracket of the elite division is no small feat. But there was calmness during and after DFW T-Jack Elite's 68-63 win over the Philadelphia Belles.

This win was part of a two-piece promise the team made last spring when the program lost its director and leader, Marques Jackson, to a heart attack.

"Our main thing was Coach Jackson," Ashley Eli said. "This was the weekend of his funeral so it's a really emotional weekend for us and we just really wanted to do it for him. So it's not so much winning a tournament but just more doing it to make him proud and we know he's looking over us."

This DFW team, whose core has been together since the eighth grade, missed this tournament a year ago to attend Jackson's funeral. But this resilient group had two goals this season -- win Boo and win Nike Nationals.

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