Better Together: Furman’s Championship Quest
The 7th Annual Awards
- Best Documentary: Long-Form
ABOUT THIS ENTRY
The Furman Men's Basketball team hasn't won the Southern Conference Tournament Championship since 1980, enduring one of the longest droughts in college basketball history, and in 2022, they were just 4.3 seconds away from victory before a last-second 3-point shot dashed their hopes. "Better Together: Furman's Championship Quest" is a 5-episode limited series chronicling the team's pursuit of a SoCon Tournament Championship and a return to March Madness after 43 years as a Cinderella team.
How does this represent "Excellence in Engagement"?
The five-episode docuseries exemplifies how authentic storytelling and strategic organic marketing can drive impactful engagement. This success underscores the power of niche audience targeting and compelling narratives. Compared to traditional promotional campaigns, the series achieved cost-efficient engagement, demonstrating how focused, grassroots efforts can yield strong financial and branding results in niche markets.
Objective
The five-episode docuseries captures Furman Basketball's extraordinary journey of resilience, redemption, and triumph. Its primary goal was to explore the emotional and psychological aftermath of "the shot," a heart-wrenching moment that cost the team the 2022 Southern Conference Championship. By granting unprecedented access to the team during the 2022-2023 season, the series offers an intimate portrayal of their response to failure, guided by Head Coach Bob Richey’s leadership and the unwavering dedication of players like Mike Bothwell, Jalen Slawson, and JP Pegues.
More than a story of athletic achievement, the docuseries seeks to inspire audiences by showcasing how the team channeled their collective heartbreak into motivation, culminating in a historic NCAA Tournament victory over Virginia. It underscores the universal themes of perseverance and unity, aiming to resonate far beyond basketball by illustrating how challenges can fuel remarkable transformations and meaningful success.
Strategy & Execution
The five-episode docuseries was designed and implemented by combining cinematography compromised of raw, unscripted moments with audio elements such as interviews and game broadcasts in order to craft a compelling and immersive narrative without needing traditional voiceover narration. This approach aimed to put the sports fan in the heart of the team's journey, making them feel as if they're part of the experience.
Organizations
- Triple R Productions
Links
Featured
- Featured:
- 2022-23 Furman Men's Basketball Team & Staff
- Main characters:
- Head Coach Bob Richey
- Furman Player Mike Bothwell
- Furman Player Jalen Slawson
- Furman Player JP Peques
- Special Guests:
- Randolph Childress
- Seth Greenberg
- Anish Shroff
- Dan Bonner
- Terrence Oglesby
- Stan Van Gundy
- Steph Curry
Credits
Richmond Weaver
Director & Producer
Triple R Productions
David Stapp
Editor
Triple R Productions
Brian Fannin
Cinematographer
Triple R Productions
George Wise
Sound Engineer
Triple R Productions
Jack Bynum
Associate Producer
Triple R Productions
Brett Gemas
Graphic Designer
Triple R Productions
Celebrate in NYC
Join us for the 7th Annual Hashtag Sports Awards™ on the evening of June 24, 2025 as we celebrate finalists and reveal the winners of this year's awards live during the show.
