The Team Suffolk 12U boys’ basketball team did not lose many games this year, and it made a name for itself at the state and national levels.

The squad’s coach, Russell Pettaway, said he thought one of the reasons the team was so successful was that “all of our players have been together for three to four years, and they play tremendous team ball, both offensively and defensively. They are unselfish.”

In June, the local boys participated in the Maryland Invitational Tournament, which is a national event featuring 65 teams from all over the United States. The Suffolk team took third place.

Pettaway used the tournament to get an idea of how his team compared nationally in advance of the Amateur Athletic Union 12U Division I national tournament.

He knew his team was elite within the state, having won the AAU 12U Division I super regional and state tournaments.

Among other tournament wins, Team Suffolk 12U even won two 13U tournaments in Virginia Beach.

The squad ended up having success in the 65-team national tourney, advancing as far as the Sweet 16.

“We had a lot of kids that did a lot of great things this year that really helped propel us,” Pettaway said. “It was a complete team effort.”

His son, George Pettaway, turned in an outstanding performance during the season at the point guard position, averaging 10 assists a game and compiling 127 steals.

“He led us in rebounds, steals, assists and was third in points,” the coach said. “He had five triple-doubles this year.”

Helping the younger Pettaway accumulate so many assists were some talented offensive stars.

“We’ve got some outstanding shooters,” the coach said, starting the list with Jaden Freeman. On the team, “he was second in points, second in rebounds, and he was our highest percentage shooter for the season,” shooting almost 60 percent from the field.

Along with George Pettaway, Freeman served as a prime illustration of the unselfishness that defined the team.

“He only shot the ball like six times a game, but I wanted him to shoot it 15 times,” Coach Pettaway said.

Another standout shooter was Efrem Johnson Jr., who led the team in points.

Luke Williamson was clutch from the perimeter.

“He won like three games for us hitting three-point shots in the end of the game, big time shots,” the coach said.

Brendan Moore helped Team Suffolk defeat a LeBron James-sponsored team of seventh-graders by converting eight straight points.

Ryan Williams was also a clutch shooter for team.

At the other end of the court, Calvin Beatty shined brightly. “He was a defensive spark for us all year long,” Pettaway said.

The team’s sixth man of the year was Cameron Jiles-Edmonds, who Pettaway called a jack-of-all-trades.

Kemauri Spencer was named the squad’s most improved player, and Isaiah Williams received the coach’s award for doing the little things that make for a good basketball player. He started the season on the bench and ended it a starter.